AGGRESSION 52: KOTC - Cameron Cruise vs. Fusenshoff
- Thread starter DBrunkGXW
- Start date
TSiegel
I spoil things.
"There's three kinds of people in this world. Two are 'Those who succeed', and 'Those who don't know when to quit.' The third one however...is abit of a Wildcard, and that's 'Those who don't know when to SHUT THE HELL UP.'"
(Fadein, Cameron Cruise in front of an Empire Pro Aggression backdrop, dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt with "Empire Pro Wrestling's Finest" in black cursive lettering across the chest. Black Anarchy-styled shades hide silent anger Cruise' has in his eyes as he starts to pace abit back and forth in front of the backdrop, wincing periodically as he lightly checks the lacerations and cuts he received during the "Storm" that the "Four-Way" match at Black Dawn.)
CRUISE: Sean Stevens succeeded in doing what most people, much like myself included...believed he would fail.
He managed to keep the World Heavyweight Championship with his person when he walked out of Black Dawn, but as it happens...this isn't exactly about Sean Stevens right now...at least not this week.
The First however...managed to once again, come up JUST SHORT.
Despite beating his own HOPE club member Shawn Hart, The First managed to once again come up short in a match that enabled someone else's Championship title to be put on the line. Unfortunately, regardless of having his own career on the line turned down or even swearing that the World title match would be his very last attempt at becoming World Heavyweight Champion, here he is...competing in the Annual King of the Cage Tournament. Where on top of being declared "King Of The Cage, the winner receives a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. Now...I'm not exactly calling him out on being a WELCHER...but I AM calling him a Liar and a Bullsh*tter, no doubt about that.
But for this week it's not exactly about him either.
Then there's James Kattman, better known as "Copycat".
I find it interesting that time and time again...MY name comes out of YOUR mouth...and more often than I'd like...you ACTUALLY follow it up with words like "Failure".
Or you differ a variation of a term that means that I didn't EXCEL at doing what the members of an Empire Pro Rosterwhile being a member of Anthology...why James, that's not just UNTRUE...
It's an INSULT.
The fact is that Anthology had the potential to be the VERY BEST this business had ever seen, no matter what anyone else said or tried to argue.
Even people tried to put together a group AGAINST Anthology or anyone afflilliated with it...and it self-destructed.
Anthology failed not because they lost...but because they couldn't prove that they belonged where others already were; The Main Event.
I won the EPW Intercontinental title...by myself.
You??
You got beat by Layne Winters at least TWICE with the title on the line.
Therefore...if you and Jared need to know why I did what I did at Black Dawn...it's fairly simple.
You got the World Tag Team Titles with my help, and barely held a convincing representation to defend them.
So I did what was done to me by someone else...to you.
Which was give you a wake-up call.
You say that you didn't support the decision that was to kick me out of the very group that I helped create....but as I said before....it's quite interesting that you say that.
(Cruise stops and turns to face the camera.)
Because you didn't do anything to stop it either, not you, or Wells or the rest of the group, so you know what I think??
I think James Kattman got what he rightly deserved, when he lost the titles....now whether or not that helps your current situation you're in now, I don't know and I don't really care.
But that's another issue for another time, because right now...it's only about one thing.
One focus.
One goal.
Against one man.
This week, that man happens to be the one and only FUSENSHOFF.
(Cruise relaxes abit, taking off his shades but still holding his facial expression.)
Been awhile since we've competed in the same ring at the same time, hasn't it Fuse??
Some things have changed, some things haven't, and some are starting to bend alittle.
Though this happens to be one of the times where something's going to change, you see, because now that there's not a SHADOW OF A DOUBT in ANYONES mind that I can keep up with the best this company has to offer, but I CAN beat the Champ.
This isn't personal Fuse, you know this already.
But if putting you into the hospital with bruises (Cruise points to acouple dis-colored-but-visible bruises), lacerations (Cruise motions to afew cuts he also received from the Fatal-Four-Way match as well), is what I've gotta do to advance and take another step towards taking what I know belongs to me...the EPW World Heavyweight Championship...
Then you know that that's just unorthodox casualty that the fans are going to have to understand.
But it's about time I make headway towards something I've fought for since the beginning, then my accomplishing and winning the Empire Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship is just going to be a REALITY CHECK that you and everyone else just...won't like.
FADEOUT
(Fadein, Cameron Cruise in front of an Empire Pro Aggression backdrop, dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt with "Empire Pro Wrestling's Finest" in black cursive lettering across the chest. Black Anarchy-styled shades hide silent anger Cruise' has in his eyes as he starts to pace abit back and forth in front of the backdrop, wincing periodically as he lightly checks the lacerations and cuts he received during the "Storm" that the "Four-Way" match at Black Dawn.)
CRUISE: Sean Stevens succeeded in doing what most people, much like myself included...believed he would fail.
He managed to keep the World Heavyweight Championship with his person when he walked out of Black Dawn, but as it happens...this isn't exactly about Sean Stevens right now...at least not this week.
The First however...managed to once again, come up JUST SHORT.
Despite beating his own HOPE club member Shawn Hart, The First managed to once again come up short in a match that enabled someone else's Championship title to be put on the line. Unfortunately, regardless of having his own career on the line turned down or even swearing that the World title match would be his very last attempt at becoming World Heavyweight Champion, here he is...competing in the Annual King of the Cage Tournament. Where on top of being declared "King Of The Cage, the winner receives a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. Now...I'm not exactly calling him out on being a WELCHER...but I AM calling him a Liar and a Bullsh*tter, no doubt about that.
But for this week it's not exactly about him either.
Then there's James Kattman, better known as "Copycat".
I find it interesting that time and time again...MY name comes out of YOUR mouth...and more often than I'd like...you ACTUALLY follow it up with words like "Failure".
Or you differ a variation of a term that means that I didn't EXCEL at doing what the members of an Empire Pro Rosterwhile being a member of Anthology...why James, that's not just UNTRUE...
It's an INSULT.
The fact is that Anthology had the potential to be the VERY BEST this business had ever seen, no matter what anyone else said or tried to argue.
Even people tried to put together a group AGAINST Anthology or anyone afflilliated with it...and it self-destructed.
Anthology failed not because they lost...but because they couldn't prove that they belonged where others already were; The Main Event.
I won the EPW Intercontinental title...by myself.
You??
You got beat by Layne Winters at least TWICE with the title on the line.
Therefore...if you and Jared need to know why I did what I did at Black Dawn...it's fairly simple.
You got the World Tag Team Titles with my help, and barely held a convincing representation to defend them.
So I did what was done to me by someone else...to you.
Which was give you a wake-up call.
You say that you didn't support the decision that was to kick me out of the very group that I helped create....but as I said before....it's quite interesting that you say that.
(Cruise stops and turns to face the camera.)
Because you didn't do anything to stop it either, not you, or Wells or the rest of the group, so you know what I think??
I think James Kattman got what he rightly deserved, when he lost the titles....now whether or not that helps your current situation you're in now, I don't know and I don't really care.
But that's another issue for another time, because right now...it's only about one thing.
One focus.
One goal.
Against one man.
This week, that man happens to be the one and only FUSENSHOFF.
(Cruise relaxes abit, taking off his shades but still holding his facial expression.)
Been awhile since we've competed in the same ring at the same time, hasn't it Fuse??
Some things have changed, some things haven't, and some are starting to bend alittle.
Though this happens to be one of the times where something's going to change, you see, because now that there's not a SHADOW OF A DOUBT in ANYONES mind that I can keep up with the best this company has to offer, but I CAN beat the Champ.
This isn't personal Fuse, you know this already.
But if putting you into the hospital with bruises (Cruise points to acouple dis-colored-but-visible bruises), lacerations (Cruise motions to afew cuts he also received from the Fatal-Four-Way match as well), is what I've gotta do to advance and take another step towards taking what I know belongs to me...the EPW World Heavyweight Championship...
Then you know that that's just unorthodox casualty that the fans are going to have to understand.
But it's about time I make headway towards something I've fought for since the beginning, then my accomplishing and winning the Empire Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship is just going to be a REALITY CHECK that you and everyone else just...won't like.
FADEOUT
Fusenshoff
League Member
Fusenshoff is sitting at a table on a stage, signing autographs before Aggression 52. The line is dwindling down and the Bobby’s and Timmy’s are almost all gone. After the last few scurry away--eyes lit up like the South African World Cup team--Fusenshoff finally walks off to take a few pulls of his flask.
Fusenshoff: “Many nights there was no moon to shine any light on what had become of my life. In those days it wasn’t feasible to fathom myself as a “role model”. I heard that word over and over again today, still unsure what to think about it.
“Months back I was very politely handed a letter that informed me of two choices. The first was to buy a flask instead of bottles of blackjack when in front of flashy lights. The second was to become a valued member of the FCC Board of Directors’ Childrens’ Private School scholarship fund. I still get bills in the mail ever once in a while, but…
After a brief pause Fusenshoff holds up the flask full of booze and jiggles it around to emphasize what he chose after what was likely little deliberation.
“All I did was stumble upon something that acts as a back door out of hellish guilt. It freed me from a silhouette of grief so permanent it makes my shadow jealous. Wrestling is the mother that pushed me back into this world from its womb and much like child labor, it is a gift I can never repay.
“But with it comes unforeseen circumstances, one of which is life in the public eye. As wrestlers, kids and adults alike appreciate what we do in the ring and try to emulate us. They try to copy our movements and styles in the ring. Children wish to be over six feet tall with a bullish frame.
“And it’s not just what we do in the ring. A teen today had a flask that looked just like mine. He showed it to me and the look on his face was pride. My crutch is a source of pride to an easily influenced youth.
“Meanwhile our champion, a married man, parades around glorifying his infidelity as a source of power and excellence.
“It makes one wonder where accountability becomes a responsibility in this sport. One may wonder if it even exists. Do we push the envelope as far as we’re allowed? Where does it stop becoming creative expression and begins to be about the numbers: bank account balances, merchandise sales and notches on Holiday Inn bedposts?
“I fight for my survival in that ring, but for over a year I was hunted by a lunatic whose purpose was to be the sole purveyor of my misery. I told myself I’d never become an ‘entertainer’, doing what we do for money or prestige. I want to learn to be a ‘pure’ wrestler and let the rest form alliances and take every win or loss personally.”
Fusenshoff pauses to let his feelings sink in a bit before proceeding.
“This gives me clarity when what we do becomes a circus. I can’t focus the same way that I do if I ever allow a side show of drama to take the spotlight instead of what happens in the center of the ring.
“For the first time the affect I have on fans has influenced what I do with myself. I want to reap the benefits of this tournament and enjoy the challenge of defeating man after man from this federation until there no one left. But with that will come even more fans and followers. It’s no secret that I’m a f*cking mess. What will be the trickle-down effect from becoming more than just another EPW wrestler?
“In TEAM there was no drama, just wrestling. It was okay to be Champion of Champions there because no one ran in on matches or ranted for thirty minutes in the middle of the ring about how his or her nemesis opened up a gash on their pretty face.
“Here I’m facing an opponent this week who I’ve fought before. I’ve beaten him and yet he comes out spending over half his time talking about three guys on the other half of this tournament bracket.
“Cam, you and I face each other again in a week. You’re worried about Triple X, First and Copycat when two of those three guys will be gone by the end of the second round of this thing. Odds are against any of them to make it to the Finals as no one would put even money on it. Not only that, you’ll have to make it as well to even swap a smidgeon of sweat with one of them.
“Down the road in this rodeo I may be forced to confront a slight distraction: to wonder what fame will mean to who I am and what I publicly represent. I fear what repercussions will come as my focus is potentially sidetracked. That goes against everything I train myself to be in the ring.
“Then I remember that so many guys choose to distract themselves constantly with petty squabbles of a much greater mental magnitude.
“Luckily, I have four matches before that truly becomes a concern.”
Fade out to Fusenshoff looking down at his flask. He takes a very long pull before putting it back in his jacket.
Fusenshoff: “Many nights there was no moon to shine any light on what had become of my life. In those days it wasn’t feasible to fathom myself as a “role model”. I heard that word over and over again today, still unsure what to think about it.
“Months back I was very politely handed a letter that informed me of two choices. The first was to buy a flask instead of bottles of blackjack when in front of flashy lights. The second was to become a valued member of the FCC Board of Directors’ Childrens’ Private School scholarship fund. I still get bills in the mail ever once in a while, but…
After a brief pause Fusenshoff holds up the flask full of booze and jiggles it around to emphasize what he chose after what was likely little deliberation.
“All I did was stumble upon something that acts as a back door out of hellish guilt. It freed me from a silhouette of grief so permanent it makes my shadow jealous. Wrestling is the mother that pushed me back into this world from its womb and much like child labor, it is a gift I can never repay.
“But with it comes unforeseen circumstances, one of which is life in the public eye. As wrestlers, kids and adults alike appreciate what we do in the ring and try to emulate us. They try to copy our movements and styles in the ring. Children wish to be over six feet tall with a bullish frame.
“And it’s not just what we do in the ring. A teen today had a flask that looked just like mine. He showed it to me and the look on his face was pride. My crutch is a source of pride to an easily influenced youth.
“Meanwhile our champion, a married man, parades around glorifying his infidelity as a source of power and excellence.
“It makes one wonder where accountability becomes a responsibility in this sport. One may wonder if it even exists. Do we push the envelope as far as we’re allowed? Where does it stop becoming creative expression and begins to be about the numbers: bank account balances, merchandise sales and notches on Holiday Inn bedposts?
“I fight for my survival in that ring, but for over a year I was hunted by a lunatic whose purpose was to be the sole purveyor of my misery. I told myself I’d never become an ‘entertainer’, doing what we do for money or prestige. I want to learn to be a ‘pure’ wrestler and let the rest form alliances and take every win or loss personally.”
Fusenshoff pauses to let his feelings sink in a bit before proceeding.
“This gives me clarity when what we do becomes a circus. I can’t focus the same way that I do if I ever allow a side show of drama to take the spotlight instead of what happens in the center of the ring.
“For the first time the affect I have on fans has influenced what I do with myself. I want to reap the benefits of this tournament and enjoy the challenge of defeating man after man from this federation until there no one left. But with that will come even more fans and followers. It’s no secret that I’m a f*cking mess. What will be the trickle-down effect from becoming more than just another EPW wrestler?
“In TEAM there was no drama, just wrestling. It was okay to be Champion of Champions there because no one ran in on matches or ranted for thirty minutes in the middle of the ring about how his or her nemesis opened up a gash on their pretty face.
“Here I’m facing an opponent this week who I’ve fought before. I’ve beaten him and yet he comes out spending over half his time talking about three guys on the other half of this tournament bracket.
“Cam, you and I face each other again in a week. You’re worried about Triple X, First and Copycat when two of those three guys will be gone by the end of the second round of this thing. Odds are against any of them to make it to the Finals as no one would put even money on it. Not only that, you’ll have to make it as well to even swap a smidgeon of sweat with one of them.
“Down the road in this rodeo I may be forced to confront a slight distraction: to wonder what fame will mean to who I am and what I publicly represent. I fear what repercussions will come as my focus is potentially sidetracked. That goes against everything I train myself to be in the ring.
“Then I remember that so many guys choose to distract themselves constantly with petty squabbles of a much greater mental magnitude.
“Luckily, I have four matches before that truly becomes a concern.”
Fade out to Fusenshoff looking down at his flask. He takes a very long pull before putting it back in his jacket.
TSiegel
I spoil things.
(Fadein, the outside of Beiden Field, home of the 2008 College World Series Champion Fresno State Bulldogs. Sitting on the mound with his arms crossed over his knees is Cameron Cruise, dressed in blue jeans a black shirt under a Fresno State Bulldog jersey and his trademark black Anarchy-style shades.)
CRUISE: It was the team that played on this field two years ago that did the unthinkable, to some the IMPOSSIBLE.
They defeated the OTHER team with a Bulldog as a mascot, Georgia, an ASTRONOMICAL ANOMALY that NO ONE believed would happen, in a Best-Of-Three series.
Why is it I'm taking the time to remind everyone of this??
Simple....because in alot of ways, the Fresno State Bulldogs are just like the situation I'm in today.
It's been years before Black Dawn came around that I had a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, and while I didn't walk out the World Heavyweight Champion, I made it CRYSTAL CLEAR for everyone that didn't believe that I couldn't keep up with Sean Stevens.
In the process even handing him acouple of REALITY CHECKS in the process.
But despite that, despite nearly coming down to the Final Two, despite nearly SHOCKING THE WORLD...everyone in that lockerroom still doesn't see the possibility of me becoming the next EPW World Champion.
Everyone but the fans, that is.
And that still holds true today, as I fixate myself on a tournament of my own to win starting in the First Round of the 2010 King Of The Cage against Fusenshoff.
Fuse, I understand your concern about my bringing up Stevens, Copycat and The First, but what you need to understand is that this also is much like another competition, a campaign if you will. Now, most people...well, people that are aware of their surroundings that is...when they hear that word "Campaign", they liken it to a Presidential Election.
And Campaigns aren't exactly won that quickly, Fuse, you know that....but that's what I'm talking about.
The EPW World Title is MY Presidential Election, it's MY Campaign.
And men...or in this day in age women as well, when they campaign for an office position they bring up the issues that matter.
Like I did previously.
Now, quite abit of what you said about Stevens I don't really have a disagreement with you about; everything you've said is just about on point with what I've said afew times before and I'm good with that.
But the other two...that presents the beginning of a slew of problems that are wrong with this company, problems that I intend to correct while I'm on the way towards becoming World Champion.
Take First for example...he's going back and forth with Copycat about this being a "Young Man's Game". Well, now if that's true...then spouting forth the garbage from his mouth to Copycat about needing to go away is just that...garbage. The First presents the fact that this is a 'Young Man's Game', but he's on his own admissions, even if he's in his own mind...The First was around when Christ was born...so if that's the case, The First is "Over-the-hill", himself, he doesn't belong here, much less competing for yet ANOTHER chance at a shot at Sean Stevens.
One that he's proven clearly he can't do something about, yet he's in the First Round as well.
Copycat....now that's something completely different.
Copycat believes that Anthology failed him, that the support he had to "Cure" Empire Pro crumbled, after when I was evicted from the group I helped form. Now obviously by what's happened these last few weeks and what he's done, Copycat isn't exactly of his own mind...but at least he slips one nugget of logic out every now and then.
But the fact remains this: Anthology didn't fail Copycat, COPYCAT failed Anthology.
Anthology had the potential to be the GREATEST THING EVER....but it lost steam the minute Copycat and the rest of the group got the itch to have more than what we wanted...and that was the World Heavyweight Champion on the same side.
Correct me if I'm wrong...but the original idea wasn't to have the World Champion on the same side...it was to beat the World Champion and keep things from status quo, even if it meant beating him seventeen times in the side of the head.
If that's what it took to change things.
But that's okay...because I'm set on fixing that too.
But then Fuse...then there's things like...well you for example.
You've given yourself four matches to figure out what to do with things that need to be taken care of, but that's just it, Fuse.
That's part of what's wrong with this country.
As a nation, we've become abunch of Procrastinators, and I don't say that to mean it in a harsh and negative light, but it is what it is. Like the whole "Oil-Spill Fiasco" for example. People that are "trying" to fix it are procrastinating...meanwhile...the Gulf is going to sh*t more and more each day.
Issues have to be taken care of or "Nipped in the bud" so-to-speak....as soon as possible.
(Cruise stands up and produces a 2010 College World Series baseball as he tosses it in the air afew times.)
You have an issue with how things have taken such a turn in Empire Pro Fuse, like with Sean Stevens Infidelity in the middle of a Marriage to another woman but yet you abstain from confronting your own errors with turning over a new leaf, and you even admitted it yourself.
" My crutch is a source of pride to an easily influenced youth."
In other words...your way of life didn't inspire youth to do better...your way of life inspired youth to do WORSE. Your way of life and the way you live contributed to the Delinquincy of a Minor, tell me something Fuse...how does that REALLY MAKE YOU FEEL??
And you wanna compete in a tournament for a chance at not only becoming the proclaimed "King Of The Cage" but attain a chance to beat the World Champion??
Forget what I said before, Fuse, the fact is that I want you to understand that this isn't personal to me...between you and I, this is just business. However the fact is that I want you to think about this for a second. Let's just put on the hypothetical table here the idea that you win your four matches as you are the man you are now.
Let's put forth the possibility that you defeat the man that has the World Heavyweight Championship title and you become the Empire Pro World Champion....do you really think that a man like Dan Ryan or Alaina even, is going to allow a man such as yourself...unkept and disheveled, reeking of booze all day and night to hold and represent the most Prestigious title in the company at the same time??
If the logical answer in your head is anything but a word desribing the opposite of an affirmative decision, Fusenshoff, sir...you have bigger problems than you thought.
Don't worry though Fuse because the way I see it, you'll have plenty of time to fix that while I move on to the next round.
Why??
Because that's a REALITY CHECK that you just...won't like.
FADEOUT
CRUISE: It was the team that played on this field two years ago that did the unthinkable, to some the IMPOSSIBLE.
They defeated the OTHER team with a Bulldog as a mascot, Georgia, an ASTRONOMICAL ANOMALY that NO ONE believed would happen, in a Best-Of-Three series.
Why is it I'm taking the time to remind everyone of this??
Simple....because in alot of ways, the Fresno State Bulldogs are just like the situation I'm in today.
It's been years before Black Dawn came around that I had a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, and while I didn't walk out the World Heavyweight Champion, I made it CRYSTAL CLEAR for everyone that didn't believe that I couldn't keep up with Sean Stevens.
In the process even handing him acouple of REALITY CHECKS in the process.
But despite that, despite nearly coming down to the Final Two, despite nearly SHOCKING THE WORLD...everyone in that lockerroom still doesn't see the possibility of me becoming the next EPW World Champion.
Everyone but the fans, that is.
And that still holds true today, as I fixate myself on a tournament of my own to win starting in the First Round of the 2010 King Of The Cage against Fusenshoff.
Fuse, I understand your concern about my bringing up Stevens, Copycat and The First, but what you need to understand is that this also is much like another competition, a campaign if you will. Now, most people...well, people that are aware of their surroundings that is...when they hear that word "Campaign", they liken it to a Presidential Election.
And Campaigns aren't exactly won that quickly, Fuse, you know that....but that's what I'm talking about.
The EPW World Title is MY Presidential Election, it's MY Campaign.
And men...or in this day in age women as well, when they campaign for an office position they bring up the issues that matter.
Like I did previously.
Now, quite abit of what you said about Stevens I don't really have a disagreement with you about; everything you've said is just about on point with what I've said afew times before and I'm good with that.
But the other two...that presents the beginning of a slew of problems that are wrong with this company, problems that I intend to correct while I'm on the way towards becoming World Champion.
Take First for example...he's going back and forth with Copycat about this being a "Young Man's Game". Well, now if that's true...then spouting forth the garbage from his mouth to Copycat about needing to go away is just that...garbage. The First presents the fact that this is a 'Young Man's Game', but he's on his own admissions, even if he's in his own mind...The First was around when Christ was born...so if that's the case, The First is "Over-the-hill", himself, he doesn't belong here, much less competing for yet ANOTHER chance at a shot at Sean Stevens.
One that he's proven clearly he can't do something about, yet he's in the First Round as well.
Copycat....now that's something completely different.
Copycat believes that Anthology failed him, that the support he had to "Cure" Empire Pro crumbled, after when I was evicted from the group I helped form. Now obviously by what's happened these last few weeks and what he's done, Copycat isn't exactly of his own mind...but at least he slips one nugget of logic out every now and then.
But the fact remains this: Anthology didn't fail Copycat, COPYCAT failed Anthology.
Anthology had the potential to be the GREATEST THING EVER....but it lost steam the minute Copycat and the rest of the group got the itch to have more than what we wanted...and that was the World Heavyweight Champion on the same side.
Correct me if I'm wrong...but the original idea wasn't to have the World Champion on the same side...it was to beat the World Champion and keep things from status quo, even if it meant beating him seventeen times in the side of the head.
If that's what it took to change things.
But that's okay...because I'm set on fixing that too.
But then Fuse...then there's things like...well you for example.
You've given yourself four matches to figure out what to do with things that need to be taken care of, but that's just it, Fuse.
That's part of what's wrong with this country.
As a nation, we've become abunch of Procrastinators, and I don't say that to mean it in a harsh and negative light, but it is what it is. Like the whole "Oil-Spill Fiasco" for example. People that are "trying" to fix it are procrastinating...meanwhile...the Gulf is going to sh*t more and more each day.
Issues have to be taken care of or "Nipped in the bud" so-to-speak....as soon as possible.
(Cruise stands up and produces a 2010 College World Series baseball as he tosses it in the air afew times.)
You have an issue with how things have taken such a turn in Empire Pro Fuse, like with Sean Stevens Infidelity in the middle of a Marriage to another woman but yet you abstain from confronting your own errors with turning over a new leaf, and you even admitted it yourself.
" My crutch is a source of pride to an easily influenced youth."
In other words...your way of life didn't inspire youth to do better...your way of life inspired youth to do WORSE. Your way of life and the way you live contributed to the Delinquincy of a Minor, tell me something Fuse...how does that REALLY MAKE YOU FEEL??
And you wanna compete in a tournament for a chance at not only becoming the proclaimed "King Of The Cage" but attain a chance to beat the World Champion??
Forget what I said before, Fuse, the fact is that I want you to understand that this isn't personal to me...between you and I, this is just business. However the fact is that I want you to think about this for a second. Let's just put on the hypothetical table here the idea that you win your four matches as you are the man you are now.
Let's put forth the possibility that you defeat the man that has the World Heavyweight Championship title and you become the Empire Pro World Champion....do you really think that a man like Dan Ryan or Alaina even, is going to allow a man such as yourself...unkept and disheveled, reeking of booze all day and night to hold and represent the most Prestigious title in the company at the same time??
If the logical answer in your head is anything but a word desribing the opposite of an affirmative decision, Fusenshoff, sir...you have bigger problems than you thought.
Don't worry though Fuse because the way I see it, you'll have plenty of time to fix that while I move on to the next round.
Why??
Because that's a REALITY CHECK that you just...won't like.
FADEOUT
Fusenshoff
League Member
Fade in to Fusenshoff in front of an EPW backdrop. The camera catches him staring at the flask in his hand. After a moment or two he holds it up in front of his face and slowly takes a swig while staring into the lens in front of him. He closes his eyes as the booze slides down his throat like the slides at water parks. Fusenshoff wipes his mouth off and slips the flask into the inside pocket of his leather jacket.
Fusenshoff: “Take a hint from Bob Seger and turn the page Cam. You go on and on about Anthology, Stevens, First and Copycat like any of them have given you a second thought.
“Guess what? The Anthology took you all the way back to high school when they publicly humiliated you in front of everyone and booted you from their clique. All you’re doing now is embarrassing yourself by not letting it go. Nobody wants to hear the star quarterback talk about the glory days, let alone the backup that played a few minutes during garbage time.
“I feel like I’m your school counselor right now, listening to you prattle on about how the cool kids ruined your prom. But the cool kids don’t hear you Cam because they’re not listening. They’ve moved on just like everyone else. And the fans watching at home can distract themselves with ‘Minute To Win It’ at the push of a button on their remote rather than suffer through this.
“I’m the only one you’re torturing Cruise. I have to listen to it, but like I said, I’m not your counselor. I won’t lend you a sympathetic ear or enroll you in male cheerleading to keep you occupied. I’m just gonna punch you in the mouth until The Anthology and World Title aspirations are the last thing on your mind. You can talk about that stuff all you want, but the fact is there will come a time next week when your mind forgets about that sh*t and you’ll start to focus on not getting punched in the mouth again- plain and simple.
“Do you think Copycat, Wells, Stevens or Edmunds are sitting around going, ‘I wonder how Cameron feels about The Anthology right now?’ Yet you repeatedly bring up your thoughts and feelings about ‘what could’ve been’.
“Nobody’s cares Cruise. Nobody cares that you think First is a welcher, least of all First. You made more headway pointing at all your cuts and bruises, then trying to scare me by saying you’ll do the same thing to me.
“I couldn’t help but find that funny Cam. A grown man who just got his ass kicked trying to instill fear in his next opponent by pointing out how badly he just got his ass kicked. I know you pretty well, so I can see where you might miss the humor in that while showing off your bruised ribs and fat lip with a menacing snarl, but that was pretty priceless. It makes for good comic relief while we cringe in embarrassment during the rest of your promos.”
Fusenshoff stops and just shakes his head. He drops his head to compose himself.
“It was nice to see you at least remembered it’s me you’re fighting in the first round. For a second I thought you might be Stevens’ imaginary first round opponent. Nice move comparing my thoughts about being a role model to the oil spill in the Gulf. Those are definitely two things in the same realm of magnitude. I like how you feel that someone questioning their lifestyle choices is akin to a country responding to environmental disaster. After this is over remind me to ask you to reorganize my to-do list. Maybe I can propose to my soul mate this week while getting groceries. Two birds and a stone, right?
“Also, nice move taking my thoughts and going way overboard with it. You speak for Dan and Alaina Ryan now, huh? Yeah I heard about how the fans never cheer for people who drink. They only sell V8 juice at the venues now and no one would ever want a World Champion parading around with a beer; that would be a disgrace. Never mind that the World Champion raped Caitlyn Daymon.
Fusenshoff shouts off to the side to no one in particular.
“CAN SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN A COLORING BOOK BEFORE HE HURTS HIMSELF?!”
The former Television Champion looks back at the camera with a half-grin.
“It floors me sometimes how little you actually take time to think before making assumptions. You spent your entire last promo talking about how you suddenly have earned clout because you wrestled in the same ring as Stevens. First off, if Stevens is the almighty pedestal that you gauge your career on you might as well be cleaning bathrooms at a Polish diner if that’s the summit of your ambitions. Second, you didn’t do a damn thing in that ring except show up and get stomped. Since when is failure a stepping stone? What are you proud of, getting in the way a couple times during the main event? Rearranging the baby oil on Stevens’ chest and making First’s mascara run?
I suppose it’s perfect that of all people you’re the one handing out Reality Checks… the subtlety of parody.”
Fade out as Fusenshoff stands up and pulls his flask out of his pocket. He tosses it in the air, catching it after it flips a couple times. Winking at the camera he walks off.
Fusenshoff: “Take a hint from Bob Seger and turn the page Cam. You go on and on about Anthology, Stevens, First and Copycat like any of them have given you a second thought.
“Guess what? The Anthology took you all the way back to high school when they publicly humiliated you in front of everyone and booted you from their clique. All you’re doing now is embarrassing yourself by not letting it go. Nobody wants to hear the star quarterback talk about the glory days, let alone the backup that played a few minutes during garbage time.
“I feel like I’m your school counselor right now, listening to you prattle on about how the cool kids ruined your prom. But the cool kids don’t hear you Cam because they’re not listening. They’ve moved on just like everyone else. And the fans watching at home can distract themselves with ‘Minute To Win It’ at the push of a button on their remote rather than suffer through this.
“I’m the only one you’re torturing Cruise. I have to listen to it, but like I said, I’m not your counselor. I won’t lend you a sympathetic ear or enroll you in male cheerleading to keep you occupied. I’m just gonna punch you in the mouth until The Anthology and World Title aspirations are the last thing on your mind. You can talk about that stuff all you want, but the fact is there will come a time next week when your mind forgets about that sh*t and you’ll start to focus on not getting punched in the mouth again- plain and simple.
“Do you think Copycat, Wells, Stevens or Edmunds are sitting around going, ‘I wonder how Cameron feels about The Anthology right now?’ Yet you repeatedly bring up your thoughts and feelings about ‘what could’ve been’.
“Nobody’s cares Cruise. Nobody cares that you think First is a welcher, least of all First. You made more headway pointing at all your cuts and bruises, then trying to scare me by saying you’ll do the same thing to me.
“I couldn’t help but find that funny Cam. A grown man who just got his ass kicked trying to instill fear in his next opponent by pointing out how badly he just got his ass kicked. I know you pretty well, so I can see where you might miss the humor in that while showing off your bruised ribs and fat lip with a menacing snarl, but that was pretty priceless. It makes for good comic relief while we cringe in embarrassment during the rest of your promos.”
Fusenshoff stops and just shakes his head. He drops his head to compose himself.
“It was nice to see you at least remembered it’s me you’re fighting in the first round. For a second I thought you might be Stevens’ imaginary first round opponent. Nice move comparing my thoughts about being a role model to the oil spill in the Gulf. Those are definitely two things in the same realm of magnitude. I like how you feel that someone questioning their lifestyle choices is akin to a country responding to environmental disaster. After this is over remind me to ask you to reorganize my to-do list. Maybe I can propose to my soul mate this week while getting groceries. Two birds and a stone, right?
“Also, nice move taking my thoughts and going way overboard with it. You speak for Dan and Alaina Ryan now, huh? Yeah I heard about how the fans never cheer for people who drink. They only sell V8 juice at the venues now and no one would ever want a World Champion parading around with a beer; that would be a disgrace. Never mind that the World Champion raped Caitlyn Daymon.
Fusenshoff shouts off to the side to no one in particular.
“CAN SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN A COLORING BOOK BEFORE HE HURTS HIMSELF?!”
The former Television Champion looks back at the camera with a half-grin.
“It floors me sometimes how little you actually take time to think before making assumptions. You spent your entire last promo talking about how you suddenly have earned clout because you wrestled in the same ring as Stevens. First off, if Stevens is the almighty pedestal that you gauge your career on you might as well be cleaning bathrooms at a Polish diner if that’s the summit of your ambitions. Second, you didn’t do a damn thing in that ring except show up and get stomped. Since when is failure a stepping stone? What are you proud of, getting in the way a couple times during the main event? Rearranging the baby oil on Stevens’ chest and making First’s mascara run?
I suppose it’s perfect that of all people you’re the one handing out Reality Checks… the subtlety of parody.”
Fade out as Fusenshoff stands up and pulls his flask out of his pocket. He tosses it in the air, catching it after it flips a couple times. Winking at the camera he walks off.
TSiegel
I spoil things.
(Fadein, Cameron Cruise leaning up against a Jukebox in the tail end of a pub in Hartford, Connecticut. Dressed in jeans and a white shirt underneath a blue UCONN hooded pullover sweater, he sports matching blue Anarchy shades as he signals for a beer and notices the camera as it pans closer. With a quick chuckle, Cruise shuffles over to a table leans back abit, stretching himself abit.)
CRUISE: And to think...I was just wondering when you crazy animals would be in, picked a heck of a time to do it in though. I'll admit though, we'll have to get through this one fairly quickly, I got here from the West Coast the other day so I ended up missing out on calling my ol' man yesterday so....you know how that's gonna be, as I'm sure he'll wanna get that Annual game of Cribbage out of the way....but enough of that noise...
(Cruise pauses a second as he thanks the waitress for the beer, also silently making for a segue into other matters.)
Ya know Fuse, before this I'd probably go in on what you'd say and agree that even though we haven't met too much in the ring and on most things there isn't alot of difference of opinion...but then you said what you did recently and it occurred to me that on the whole...
You just don't know me at all.
Fact is...hell, where do I start?? "Where better than the beginning??", that's what my ol' man used to say.
The fact is Fuse...OF COURSE Stevens, First, and Copycat have second thoughts about me; why else do you think my name comes up so much?? The First and Sean like to throw it in my face that it was STEVENS that challenged me to a match when I had the INTERCONTINENTAL Championship, not vice versa. Now, the result of that challenge aside, the fact remains that if it wasn't for the impact that I made on this company...that would've never happened.
What I've done thus far, before as well as at Black Dawn...never a passive and/or conducive plan.
And that goes for Wells too, that dirty BITCH is definitely thinking about what I could have going on right now, hell, if it wasn't for me he wouldn't have the success that he's had since his return to the ring....
(Cruise quickly holds up a finger as he pauses to explain..
That's not my being cocky or arrogant, but it is what it is and you can look back at the tapes yourself if you don't believe me.
Anthology, whether it was Wells and Edmunds or Wells and Larry Tact or Edmunds and Copycat or any other mixture of the group, the success Anthology had as the Tag Team Champions was largely induced by just one man.
Me??
So it was only right that after that YEAR-LONG-REIGN, that I be the one that helped it END.
So Heirs Of Wrestling, if you give a damn...not that I could give a damn any less, but YOUR WELCOME.
Also, Fuse...I haven't had a High School Counselor listen to me since I helped produce the biggest merchandising boon Melton and I put together for Ryan since he took over as owner and as a thank you...received the most gracious gift a man could give a man like me at that point:
Girl on Girl Lesbian Action with the Wife in one room while Melton proceeded to be denied over and over again by Lindsay Troy.
But before I digress, allow me to backtrack just abit.
You'd like to make me believe that nobody cares about what I say, that nobody cares about what I do, here in this company....and that's quite the fair assessment.
Horrible assumption, but still...your opinion.
(Cruise smiles)
Allow me to retort.
Fuck you.
You...a booze-binging-and-purging, silly, silly man...have all of TWO Television title Reigns and at least a year long feud with Stalker. You know what I got??
Three Tag Team title reigns, Two INTERCONTINENTAL title reigns...both in losing the title not by being defeated one-on-one...but by unorthodox methods...you know...being surrounded by four men before being hit with my own title for one, and of course there's the other one:
Being accused of being a Klu Klux Klan member....that's always nice.
Oh and by the way...I've faced Jason Reeves two-to-three times myself, I don't quite understand just how difficult it is for a man that's as adept at this business such as yourself when I've beaten that tool of a man EVERY TIME. You talk about my being humiliated by Sean Stevens like I was back in High School, then perhaps you need a dose of your own medicine, my friend, because that same man that tortured YOU...couldn't hold a CANDLE to me.
I've succeeded where you've NEVER TRIED, but please...Fuse...make light of the fact that my points are EMPHATIC, but sincere nonetheless.
I told you this isn't personal by a longshot, Fuse, but if I have to I'll beat you so badly that at the end of the day you'll have scars and bruises just like the ones I endured at Black Dawn. The days of people watching two bums kill each other for five dollars is over Fuse, not to mention that as well as I'm doing...DESPITE what I'm doing, I'm doing quite well enough where I know I won't be classified as such. But if it means advancing to the next round and taking another step toward getting another shot at the one title in this company that has been within my reach for some time now...then what you've been through recently will be a Saturday Morning Cartoon compared to what I'm prepared to do to you.
But the fact is that no, I don't like Stevens hell, I fucking hate his guts...but the bastard has one thing that I can't deny, and that's a title reign that's reached a year and a half; it shows just how good of a wrestler he's been.
But you see Fuse, that's where I come in.
Most people...present company excluded of course don't expect alot from me and that's okay, because that allots them to make the one mistake that'll allow me to capitalize strongly enough that even the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor couldn't strike it as "Fast Enough" in the record books.
And not that it isn't public knowledge already...but I LIKE that.
Am I proud of the fact that I failed at winning the World Title in a Fatal Four-way match at Black Dawn??
To tell the truth, Yes and No.
No one wants to lose a match with a title on the line, muchless the World Heavyweight Championship, but you see Fuse, I learned something too in the process.
I might've failed in competing in a Four-way match, and I might've very-well showed up only to get get stomped, but the in doing so comes a couple of nuggets of sunlight in that darkness I took with me.
One: I can take it to the World Champion and even take him to the limit, especially with that man being as wretched as Sean Stevens, but I can make him worry quite abit.
(Cruise takes a swig of his beer.)
CRUISE: And two: Everything I've done thus far...even getting stomped by Sean Stevens in the process of a vain attempt at winning the World Heavyweight Championship...it's mostly things you've NEVER done.
So tell me, Fuse.
What exactly have YOU done lately, that's supposed to be impressive??
You lost a match to Anarky for the right to face Shawn Hart with a a title on the line that should've never left my possession.
(Cruise takes another swig of his beer as he pauses for what amounts to at least five minutes as he puts the back of his head against the wall, closing his eyes. Finally opening them again, he looks back at the camera.)
Hell, I'm sorry Fuse...other than that...I've got nothing that comes to mind that's as impressive, so you know what that makes you??
A hypocrite.
You seem to think that I enjoy failing at things like, winning the World title, but yet you're just as keen on the fact that you're going for the same spot that I am...but with one differential.
You vied for a chance at something that you could have STILL failed at accomplishing...and you didn't even do that right.
So if you ask me....looking down at myself for keeping myself afloat of what's going on in this company, while you're not even IN the same situation that I'm in at the moment...is borderline PATHETIC.
Especially when it's someone like say...YOU.
What happens to something that's become pathetic, Fuse??
Answer??
It suffers.
And what do we know about the one common remedy for something that's suffering, how do we fix it Fuse??
By "putting it down and taking it out of it's Misery."
That's exactly what I'm going to do, Fuse, at least if it comes to it.
Not because I want to....I really don't.
But because sending you to the hospital would be for your own good as well as the good of the company.
And that's a REALITY CHECK that you just...won't like. Now if you'll excuse me...I'm gonna take a hint from George Thorogood, right now.
(Cruise signals for the Bartender as the Bartender dries glasses just washed in the sink.)
CRUISE: Hey Barkeep...when you have a second??
B: So what do you want, man??
CRUISE: One Bourbon...One Scotch...One Beer....
FADEOUT
CRUISE: And to think...I was just wondering when you crazy animals would be in, picked a heck of a time to do it in though. I'll admit though, we'll have to get through this one fairly quickly, I got here from the West Coast the other day so I ended up missing out on calling my ol' man yesterday so....you know how that's gonna be, as I'm sure he'll wanna get that Annual game of Cribbage out of the way....but enough of that noise...
(Cruise pauses a second as he thanks the waitress for the beer, also silently making for a segue into other matters.)
Ya know Fuse, before this I'd probably go in on what you'd say and agree that even though we haven't met too much in the ring and on most things there isn't alot of difference of opinion...but then you said what you did recently and it occurred to me that on the whole...
You just don't know me at all.
Fact is...hell, where do I start?? "Where better than the beginning??", that's what my ol' man used to say.
The fact is Fuse...OF COURSE Stevens, First, and Copycat have second thoughts about me; why else do you think my name comes up so much?? The First and Sean like to throw it in my face that it was STEVENS that challenged me to a match when I had the INTERCONTINENTAL Championship, not vice versa. Now, the result of that challenge aside, the fact remains that if it wasn't for the impact that I made on this company...that would've never happened.
What I've done thus far, before as well as at Black Dawn...never a passive and/or conducive plan.
And that goes for Wells too, that dirty BITCH is definitely thinking about what I could have going on right now, hell, if it wasn't for me he wouldn't have the success that he's had since his return to the ring....
(Cruise quickly holds up a finger as he pauses to explain..
That's not my being cocky or arrogant, but it is what it is and you can look back at the tapes yourself if you don't believe me.
Anthology, whether it was Wells and Edmunds or Wells and Larry Tact or Edmunds and Copycat or any other mixture of the group, the success Anthology had as the Tag Team Champions was largely induced by just one man.
Me??
So it was only right that after that YEAR-LONG-REIGN, that I be the one that helped it END.
So Heirs Of Wrestling, if you give a damn...not that I could give a damn any less, but YOUR WELCOME.
Also, Fuse...I haven't had a High School Counselor listen to me since I helped produce the biggest merchandising boon Melton and I put together for Ryan since he took over as owner and as a thank you...received the most gracious gift a man could give a man like me at that point:
Girl on Girl Lesbian Action with the Wife in one room while Melton proceeded to be denied over and over again by Lindsay Troy.
But before I digress, allow me to backtrack just abit.
You'd like to make me believe that nobody cares about what I say, that nobody cares about what I do, here in this company....and that's quite the fair assessment.
Horrible assumption, but still...your opinion.
(Cruise smiles)
Allow me to retort.
Fuck you.
You...a booze-binging-and-purging, silly, silly man...have all of TWO Television title Reigns and at least a year long feud with Stalker. You know what I got??
Three Tag Team title reigns, Two INTERCONTINENTAL title reigns...both in losing the title not by being defeated one-on-one...but by unorthodox methods...you know...being surrounded by four men before being hit with my own title for one, and of course there's the other one:
Being accused of being a Klu Klux Klan member....that's always nice.
Oh and by the way...I've faced Jason Reeves two-to-three times myself, I don't quite understand just how difficult it is for a man that's as adept at this business such as yourself when I've beaten that tool of a man EVERY TIME. You talk about my being humiliated by Sean Stevens like I was back in High School, then perhaps you need a dose of your own medicine, my friend, because that same man that tortured YOU...couldn't hold a CANDLE to me.
I've succeeded where you've NEVER TRIED, but please...Fuse...make light of the fact that my points are EMPHATIC, but sincere nonetheless.
I told you this isn't personal by a longshot, Fuse, but if I have to I'll beat you so badly that at the end of the day you'll have scars and bruises just like the ones I endured at Black Dawn. The days of people watching two bums kill each other for five dollars is over Fuse, not to mention that as well as I'm doing...DESPITE what I'm doing, I'm doing quite well enough where I know I won't be classified as such. But if it means advancing to the next round and taking another step toward getting another shot at the one title in this company that has been within my reach for some time now...then what you've been through recently will be a Saturday Morning Cartoon compared to what I'm prepared to do to you.
But the fact is that no, I don't like Stevens hell, I fucking hate his guts...but the bastard has one thing that I can't deny, and that's a title reign that's reached a year and a half; it shows just how good of a wrestler he's been.
But you see Fuse, that's where I come in.
Most people...present company excluded of course don't expect alot from me and that's okay, because that allots them to make the one mistake that'll allow me to capitalize strongly enough that even the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor couldn't strike it as "Fast Enough" in the record books.
And not that it isn't public knowledge already...but I LIKE that.
Am I proud of the fact that I failed at winning the World Title in a Fatal Four-way match at Black Dawn??
To tell the truth, Yes and No.
No one wants to lose a match with a title on the line, muchless the World Heavyweight Championship, but you see Fuse, I learned something too in the process.
I might've failed in competing in a Four-way match, and I might've very-well showed up only to get get stomped, but the in doing so comes a couple of nuggets of sunlight in that darkness I took with me.
One: I can take it to the World Champion and even take him to the limit, especially with that man being as wretched as Sean Stevens, but I can make him worry quite abit.
(Cruise takes a swig of his beer.)
CRUISE: And two: Everything I've done thus far...even getting stomped by Sean Stevens in the process of a vain attempt at winning the World Heavyweight Championship...it's mostly things you've NEVER done.
So tell me, Fuse.
What exactly have YOU done lately, that's supposed to be impressive??
You lost a match to Anarky for the right to face Shawn Hart with a a title on the line that should've never left my possession.
(Cruise takes another swig of his beer as he pauses for what amounts to at least five minutes as he puts the back of his head against the wall, closing his eyes. Finally opening them again, he looks back at the camera.)
Hell, I'm sorry Fuse...other than that...I've got nothing that comes to mind that's as impressive, so you know what that makes you??
A hypocrite.
You seem to think that I enjoy failing at things like, winning the World title, but yet you're just as keen on the fact that you're going for the same spot that I am...but with one differential.
You vied for a chance at something that you could have STILL failed at accomplishing...and you didn't even do that right.
So if you ask me....looking down at myself for keeping myself afloat of what's going on in this company, while you're not even IN the same situation that I'm in at the moment...is borderline PATHETIC.
Especially when it's someone like say...YOU.
What happens to something that's become pathetic, Fuse??
Answer??
It suffers.
And what do we know about the one common remedy for something that's suffering, how do we fix it Fuse??
By "putting it down and taking it out of it's Misery."
That's exactly what I'm going to do, Fuse, at least if it comes to it.
Not because I want to....I really don't.
But because sending you to the hospital would be for your own good as well as the good of the company.
And that's a REALITY CHECK that you just...won't like. Now if you'll excuse me...I'm gonna take a hint from George Thorogood, right now.
(Cruise signals for the Bartender as the Bartender dries glasses just washed in the sink.)
CRUISE: Hey Barkeep...when you have a second??
B: So what do you want, man??
CRUISE: One Bourbon...One Scotch...One Beer....
FADEOUT