AGGRESSION 54: Non-Title Match - Karl "The Dragon" Brown (c) vs. Donovan Astros
- Thread starter DBrunkGXW
- Start date
EpyonMarx
New member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 1,004
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Nottingham, England
- Website
- www.karl-brown.co.uk
Re: AGGRESSION 54: Non-Title Match - Karl "The Dragon" Brown (c) vs. Donovan Astros
[FADE IN. We’re in a plain room, the lilac colour on the walls giving it a soft atmosphere. In the room is an oak coffee table upon which sits a small Bose stereo. From the stereo, moving outward, snakes a headphone wire which makes its way toward someone who has been compared at various times with a much larger and more powerful reptile – Empire Pro Wrestling’s Television Champion, “The Dragon.” Listening to the stereo through a set of large can-style headphones, he’s sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, dressed far more casually than even we’re used to – beige chinos, and a battered old red Wrangler t-shirt with dark blue and white hems. He knows the camera is there as he sits, tapping the remote for the stereo against his knee, and we can see he’s got a notepad next to him. The rest of the room is empty.
In the natural light coming from a window behind the camera, The Dragon takes his time as he writes a note for himself on the pad in pencil, his eyes not looking at the page. Finally, he presses a button on the remote, takes off his headphones with one hand and places them on the floor]
Karl: New beginnings. the most common is by taking a leap of faith and jumping, unknowing and ignorant, into a future that is totally unlike what we’ve known, but it doesn’t have to be like that. Sometimes we get them by simply changing our scenery, other times by coming back to something familiar.
No, I’m not talking about Empire Pro moving forward with a new World Champion. I’m talking about the man who, at Aggression, was tied up with me as his partner pinned the Intercontinental Champion. Donovan Astros is a man who’s experienced in the ring, come into Empire Pro and, without pretence, made a bit of a name for himself here. A small one compared to the likes of Sean Stevens and Copycat and Lindsay Troy, but a name nonetheless.
Don’t take that as a knock, Donovan. What I’ve seen of you, against Erik and in the tag match, impressed me. A ten year veteran who’s willing to build himself from the bottom, up – in this day and age where people move about and expect to be seen as God or something, what you’re doing is a breath of fresh air. And as a veteran, I can’t really give you career advice – you’ve lasted longer in the business than me so far so you’re pretty well covered.
But enough patting you on the back. It’s not what you’re here for, and I wouldn’t want you to misjudge me more than you already have.
Yep – for all your experience, you’ve made a simple error in judgement. The same one I made… four years ago when I waited patiently for the new Iron Maiden album to come out. I expected it to be good, and while some people thought it was… I’d say it was their weakest album since No Prayer for the Dying. But since we’re not here to discuss my musical tastes I should probably get back to my point about you making an assumption based on your experience.
You said, I recall, that you wouldn’t expect me to jump to Shawn’s aid – better that I walk out of Aggression without a challenger than being pinned, right? Well… Donovan, that might be what you’d do. It might be Shawn would’ve done if his pride wasn’t so great. Me? I actually enjoy the challenge, and I’ve learnt that titles come and titles go. So the chances of me taking the easy way out nowadays is pretty slim.
But if that’s what you’d do, if you’d run away from a tough situation to keep a championship title, all power to you. It does make me wonder whether you’d run if things got too tough when you’re facing me in a non-title match, but well find out at Aggression.
[Brown toys with the remote in his hand, but decides against trying to listen to the stereo again for now]
Karl: Of course, as wrong as you are about me, I’m probably wrong about you. You could be the greatest wrestler the universe has ever seen, and you’ve just taken a bit of getting used to the styles in Empire Pro. You could have, by now, worked off all that ring rust and be ready to tear straight through me, straight through everyone else, and become World Champion by the end of this year. And of course, keep the title for the next five or ten years, whichever takes your fancy. Or you could be all hype, and the glimpses I’ve seen of you are your absolute best. I’ve seen far more people who were the latter over the years, even some who were considered truly legendary who just didn’t live up to expectations. Or even make it to the same continent as the expectations.
You claim to be the greatest wrestler on Earth – well, Donovan, this is your chance to start proving it. To prove that you’re not like about ninety nine percent of the people who’ve come here saying the same thing. That you’re not all hype, and surprise people. I hope you’re more like this
[Karl tugs on the headphone lead, and presses a button on the remote. Suddenly we can hear “When The Wild Wind Blows”, the final track from Iron Maiden’s new album. It looks like Karl’s been listening to it with an ear on reviewing it for someone]
Karl: Than the over-hyped previous album.
We’ll see.
[FADE OUT]
[FADE IN. We’re in a plain room, the lilac colour on the walls giving it a soft atmosphere. In the room is an oak coffee table upon which sits a small Bose stereo. From the stereo, moving outward, snakes a headphone wire which makes its way toward someone who has been compared at various times with a much larger and more powerful reptile – Empire Pro Wrestling’s Television Champion, “The Dragon.” Listening to the stereo through a set of large can-style headphones, he’s sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, dressed far more casually than even we’re used to – beige chinos, and a battered old red Wrangler t-shirt with dark blue and white hems. He knows the camera is there as he sits, tapping the remote for the stereo against his knee, and we can see he’s got a notepad next to him. The rest of the room is empty.
In the natural light coming from a window behind the camera, The Dragon takes his time as he writes a note for himself on the pad in pencil, his eyes not looking at the page. Finally, he presses a button on the remote, takes off his headphones with one hand and places them on the floor]
Karl: New beginnings. the most common is by taking a leap of faith and jumping, unknowing and ignorant, into a future that is totally unlike what we’ve known, but it doesn’t have to be like that. Sometimes we get them by simply changing our scenery, other times by coming back to something familiar.
No, I’m not talking about Empire Pro moving forward with a new World Champion. I’m talking about the man who, at Aggression, was tied up with me as his partner pinned the Intercontinental Champion. Donovan Astros is a man who’s experienced in the ring, come into Empire Pro and, without pretence, made a bit of a name for himself here. A small one compared to the likes of Sean Stevens and Copycat and Lindsay Troy, but a name nonetheless.
Don’t take that as a knock, Donovan. What I’ve seen of you, against Erik and in the tag match, impressed me. A ten year veteran who’s willing to build himself from the bottom, up – in this day and age where people move about and expect to be seen as God or something, what you’re doing is a breath of fresh air. And as a veteran, I can’t really give you career advice – you’ve lasted longer in the business than me so far so you’re pretty well covered.
But enough patting you on the back. It’s not what you’re here for, and I wouldn’t want you to misjudge me more than you already have.
Yep – for all your experience, you’ve made a simple error in judgement. The same one I made… four years ago when I waited patiently for the new Iron Maiden album to come out. I expected it to be good, and while some people thought it was… I’d say it was their weakest album since No Prayer for the Dying. But since we’re not here to discuss my musical tastes I should probably get back to my point about you making an assumption based on your experience.
You said, I recall, that you wouldn’t expect me to jump to Shawn’s aid – better that I walk out of Aggression without a challenger than being pinned, right? Well… Donovan, that might be what you’d do. It might be Shawn would’ve done if his pride wasn’t so great. Me? I actually enjoy the challenge, and I’ve learnt that titles come and titles go. So the chances of me taking the easy way out nowadays is pretty slim.
But if that’s what you’d do, if you’d run away from a tough situation to keep a championship title, all power to you. It does make me wonder whether you’d run if things got too tough when you’re facing me in a non-title match, but well find out at Aggression.
[Brown toys with the remote in his hand, but decides against trying to listen to the stereo again for now]
Karl: Of course, as wrong as you are about me, I’m probably wrong about you. You could be the greatest wrestler the universe has ever seen, and you’ve just taken a bit of getting used to the styles in Empire Pro. You could have, by now, worked off all that ring rust and be ready to tear straight through me, straight through everyone else, and become World Champion by the end of this year. And of course, keep the title for the next five or ten years, whichever takes your fancy. Or you could be all hype, and the glimpses I’ve seen of you are your absolute best. I’ve seen far more people who were the latter over the years, even some who were considered truly legendary who just didn’t live up to expectations. Or even make it to the same continent as the expectations.
You claim to be the greatest wrestler on Earth – well, Donovan, this is your chance to start proving it. To prove that you’re not like about ninety nine percent of the people who’ve come here saying the same thing. That you’re not all hype, and surprise people. I hope you’re more like this
[Karl tugs on the headphone lead, and presses a button on the remote. Suddenly we can hear “When The Wild Wind Blows”, the final track from Iron Maiden’s new album. It looks like Karl’s been listening to it with an ear on reviewing it for someone]
Karl: Than the over-hyped previous album.
We’ll see.
[FADE OUT]
Re: AGGRESSION 54: Non-Title Match - Karl "The Dragon" Brown (c) vs. Donovan Astros
Fade in to a viewing room somewhere. On the display at the far wall of the room is last week's tag match between Donovan Astros, Michael Bastard, Karl Brown, and Shawn Hart. Pacing around the room while the match goes on is one of the participants in the match, Donovan Astros. Astros looks a bit frustrated by the result of the match as he rewatches himself hitting Hart with the Slingshot Effect brainbuster suplex, only to have Bastard throw him out of the ring and finish Hart off himself. The video quickly changes after the match to Karl Brown's words on the EPW website about his upcoming non-title match with Astros. Astros stops pacing for a moment and watches, laughing. Astros walks up to the display, pushing a button and leaving Brown frozen on screen, playing with the remote to his stereo. He turns to the camera and shakes his head.
ASTROS: I'm glad one of us is taking this match seriously, Karl. Maybe you should spend less time listening to Iron Maiden and more time looking at the situation at hand. There's a new World Heavyweight Champion here in Empire Pro. A new Intercontinental Champion is likely to be crowned at Aggression. Things are changing in EPW and I'm part of that change. That's not to say I've done anything to merit my name in lights just yet. You're right on that count, but Karl, everywhere else, you're so, so wrong about me.
Astros begins slowly pacing across the room again, the camera following him.
ASTROS: You call it a breath of fresh air that I'm 'willing' to start at the bottom and work my way up. Who said I was willing? In my perfect world, the things I've done to establish my name in Alberta, Seattle, and across the West Coast would have a little bit of cachet, but this is Empire Pro. This is the biggest, baddest company on the planet, the pinnacle of professional wrestling. What you've done everywhere else doesn't mean a damn thing. So while I would have liked to start out a household name, Karl, I knew that wasn't going to be the case. I knew that everything I get here in EPW, I was going to have to earn.
ASTROS: But even after all that, Karl, someone in the corporate offices here has taken a liking to me. I've been here for two matches, and both of those matches had major title implications. And unfortunately, that trust, whoever I earned it from to get these opportunities so early in my EPW career... I let them down. I haven't been able to knock on that door and let opportunity in. Is it because the talent level here in EPW is higher than I thought it was? No, I haven't taken anyone here lightly, that's for sure. I might be wrong, but I think the problem lies within, not without. It's one of two things... either I'm not as good as I think I am and after a decade in this sport, I've lost a step or two, or something inside me has been limiting myself.
The pacing stops and Astros focuses on the lens of the camera watching him.
ASTROS: Do I think Erik Black's better than me? No, but he's certainly proved a lot of his doubters wrong, and after Aggression, he just might be the World Champ. And he couldn't pin me. He couldn't make me tap out. He chose to leave the cage. Do I think Michael Bastard's better than me? Certainly not. I did the heavy lifting for our team last week, and he stole all the glory, like I expected him to. He was all happy to play nice while the match was still even, but after I planted Shawn Hart, after I drove his head into the mat with the Slingshot Effect, all he had to do was scrape up the leftovers at my expense. And Karl, do I think you're better than me? Not a chance. Not a chance in the world. Sure, when you and I were in the ring together last week, you got the upper hand. A fresh Karl Brown got the upper hand on me after I put so much into dominating... watch it again, Karl... DOMINATING the Intercontinental Champ. You're a great technical wrestler, Karl, but at Aggression, there's not gonna be any Shawn Hart punching bag for me to tire myself out on. It's just gonna be me and you.
ASTROS: So if I'm not worse than any of these people, Erik Black, Michael Bastard, Karl Brown... what is it then? What's holding me back? I think that it's that same humility, that same niceness you praised me for, Karl, this feeling like I've been walking on eggshells. I'm not worse than anyone here, but my name hasn't been in lights. It's been a long time since I've wrestled in front of crowds the size EPW draws. You take the big fish out of the small pond and drop him into the ocean, and maybe he gets a case of the yips while he looks for his own little comfortable spot where he isn't swimming across someone else's fin. But you don't grow bigger keeping to yourself and staying out of people's ways, and Karl, unfortunately for you, I'm done walking on eggshells. I'm done playing nice. And I won't be running away from you at Aggression of things get tough. The only person that's gonna be running to the hills, Karl, is you.
Astros smirks as he shuts the display off and turns out the lights in the room. We'd fade to black, but we're already there.
Fade in to a viewing room somewhere. On the display at the far wall of the room is last week's tag match between Donovan Astros, Michael Bastard, Karl Brown, and Shawn Hart. Pacing around the room while the match goes on is one of the participants in the match, Donovan Astros. Astros looks a bit frustrated by the result of the match as he rewatches himself hitting Hart with the Slingshot Effect brainbuster suplex, only to have Bastard throw him out of the ring and finish Hart off himself. The video quickly changes after the match to Karl Brown's words on the EPW website about his upcoming non-title match with Astros. Astros stops pacing for a moment and watches, laughing. Astros walks up to the display, pushing a button and leaving Brown frozen on screen, playing with the remote to his stereo. He turns to the camera and shakes his head.
ASTROS: I'm glad one of us is taking this match seriously, Karl. Maybe you should spend less time listening to Iron Maiden and more time looking at the situation at hand. There's a new World Heavyweight Champion here in Empire Pro. A new Intercontinental Champion is likely to be crowned at Aggression. Things are changing in EPW and I'm part of that change. That's not to say I've done anything to merit my name in lights just yet. You're right on that count, but Karl, everywhere else, you're so, so wrong about me.
Astros begins slowly pacing across the room again, the camera following him.
ASTROS: You call it a breath of fresh air that I'm 'willing' to start at the bottom and work my way up. Who said I was willing? In my perfect world, the things I've done to establish my name in Alberta, Seattle, and across the West Coast would have a little bit of cachet, but this is Empire Pro. This is the biggest, baddest company on the planet, the pinnacle of professional wrestling. What you've done everywhere else doesn't mean a damn thing. So while I would have liked to start out a household name, Karl, I knew that wasn't going to be the case. I knew that everything I get here in EPW, I was going to have to earn.
ASTROS: But even after all that, Karl, someone in the corporate offices here has taken a liking to me. I've been here for two matches, and both of those matches had major title implications. And unfortunately, that trust, whoever I earned it from to get these opportunities so early in my EPW career... I let them down. I haven't been able to knock on that door and let opportunity in. Is it because the talent level here in EPW is higher than I thought it was? No, I haven't taken anyone here lightly, that's for sure. I might be wrong, but I think the problem lies within, not without. It's one of two things... either I'm not as good as I think I am and after a decade in this sport, I've lost a step or two, or something inside me has been limiting myself.
The pacing stops and Astros focuses on the lens of the camera watching him.
ASTROS: Do I think Erik Black's better than me? No, but he's certainly proved a lot of his doubters wrong, and after Aggression, he just might be the World Champ. And he couldn't pin me. He couldn't make me tap out. He chose to leave the cage. Do I think Michael Bastard's better than me? Certainly not. I did the heavy lifting for our team last week, and he stole all the glory, like I expected him to. He was all happy to play nice while the match was still even, but after I planted Shawn Hart, after I drove his head into the mat with the Slingshot Effect, all he had to do was scrape up the leftovers at my expense. And Karl, do I think you're better than me? Not a chance. Not a chance in the world. Sure, when you and I were in the ring together last week, you got the upper hand. A fresh Karl Brown got the upper hand on me after I put so much into dominating... watch it again, Karl... DOMINATING the Intercontinental Champ. You're a great technical wrestler, Karl, but at Aggression, there's not gonna be any Shawn Hart punching bag for me to tire myself out on. It's just gonna be me and you.
ASTROS: So if I'm not worse than any of these people, Erik Black, Michael Bastard, Karl Brown... what is it then? What's holding me back? I think that it's that same humility, that same niceness you praised me for, Karl, this feeling like I've been walking on eggshells. I'm not worse than anyone here, but my name hasn't been in lights. It's been a long time since I've wrestled in front of crowds the size EPW draws. You take the big fish out of the small pond and drop him into the ocean, and maybe he gets a case of the yips while he looks for his own little comfortable spot where he isn't swimming across someone else's fin. But you don't grow bigger keeping to yourself and staying out of people's ways, and Karl, unfortunately for you, I'm done walking on eggshells. I'm done playing nice. And I won't be running away from you at Aggression of things get tough. The only person that's gonna be running to the hills, Karl, is you.
Astros smirks as he shuts the display off and turns out the lights in the room. We'd fade to black, but we're already there.
Re: AGGRESSION 54: Non-Title Match - Karl "The Dragon" Brown (c) vs. Donovan Astros
Fade into a studio with an Empire Pro banner in the background. Standing in front of the banner is Donovan Astros, EPW's newest acquisition. After strong performances against 'Dopesmoker' Erik Black, Shawn Hart and 'The Dragon' Karl Brown, Astros has made a small impact on EPW. But Astros, like every newcomer to Empire Pro, is looking to make a big impact, and this week, that might just be the case, as he gets Karl Brown one on one. A win could vault Astros into a Television title shot, an opportunity he missed out to Michael Bastard in his last match.
ASTROS: Karl Brown, I've been waiting. Waiting and wondering, for a man that doesn't back down from a challenge, for a man who took it as an insult that he might be thinking about self-preservation instead of taking our tag match last week head on... well, maybe this Dragon doesn't quite have the fire we all thought. Karl, I expected my words earlier this week to inspire you. I expected to get a reaction out of you. But nothing. Not a damn thing. Why don't you put the music down and look up at the challenge in front of you for one God damned minute!
Astros shrugs his shoulders.
ASTROS: I mean, I assume you're listening to music still. No one's seen you since you turned up the volume on that Iron Maiden album. Maybe that was the pinnacle of musical achievement, a body of work so complete and perfect that you, as an obvious audiophile with your choice of Bose audio equipment, simply ceased to be in its transcendence.
A quick laugh from the upstart.
ASTROS: Who knows? I'm just making up theories as I go along. Maybe you're looking for footage of Donovan Astros to study, digging through DVD bins at Wal-Mart or whatever they have in England as an equivalent... Tesco? I doubt anything I've ever wrestled in has made the shelves in the UK. You can look on Daily Motion or try and find a torrent of some shows in Alberta, that might work out. That's just the breaks, Karl. Finding footage of The Dragon is easy. Finding footage of Donovan Astros? Not so much. The good thing for you is, after I beat you this week and earn a TV title match, you'll have plenty of first-hand experience to draw off of. A little bit of success in the tag match when you and I were in the ring together... and a lot of failure from this match at Aggression. For all your smooth words and platitudes, Karl, none of that's gonna mean a damn thing when it's you and I in the squared circle. It's just my skill vs. yours, and this'll be my chance to prove to EPW that I am exactly what I say I am against one of the best technical wrestlers in the world.
Astros shakes his head with confidence.
ASTROS: The greatest wrestler on God's green Earth. I don't say it because it sounds good, I say it because I believe it! Any night, any opponent, I can beat anyone in the world, and Karl Brown, you're no exception! At Aggression I will make a statement to Empire Pro Wrestling! Too bad, Karl, that it'll be at your expense.
Fade to black on a confident challenger to the Television champion.
Fade into a studio with an Empire Pro banner in the background. Standing in front of the banner is Donovan Astros, EPW's newest acquisition. After strong performances against 'Dopesmoker' Erik Black, Shawn Hart and 'The Dragon' Karl Brown, Astros has made a small impact on EPW. But Astros, like every newcomer to Empire Pro, is looking to make a big impact, and this week, that might just be the case, as he gets Karl Brown one on one. A win could vault Astros into a Television title shot, an opportunity he missed out to Michael Bastard in his last match.
ASTROS: Karl Brown, I've been waiting. Waiting and wondering, for a man that doesn't back down from a challenge, for a man who took it as an insult that he might be thinking about self-preservation instead of taking our tag match last week head on... well, maybe this Dragon doesn't quite have the fire we all thought. Karl, I expected my words earlier this week to inspire you. I expected to get a reaction out of you. But nothing. Not a damn thing. Why don't you put the music down and look up at the challenge in front of you for one God damned minute!
Astros shrugs his shoulders.
ASTROS: I mean, I assume you're listening to music still. No one's seen you since you turned up the volume on that Iron Maiden album. Maybe that was the pinnacle of musical achievement, a body of work so complete and perfect that you, as an obvious audiophile with your choice of Bose audio equipment, simply ceased to be in its transcendence.
A quick laugh from the upstart.
ASTROS: Who knows? I'm just making up theories as I go along. Maybe you're looking for footage of Donovan Astros to study, digging through DVD bins at Wal-Mart or whatever they have in England as an equivalent... Tesco? I doubt anything I've ever wrestled in has made the shelves in the UK. You can look on Daily Motion or try and find a torrent of some shows in Alberta, that might work out. That's just the breaks, Karl. Finding footage of The Dragon is easy. Finding footage of Donovan Astros? Not so much. The good thing for you is, after I beat you this week and earn a TV title match, you'll have plenty of first-hand experience to draw off of. A little bit of success in the tag match when you and I were in the ring together... and a lot of failure from this match at Aggression. For all your smooth words and platitudes, Karl, none of that's gonna mean a damn thing when it's you and I in the squared circle. It's just my skill vs. yours, and this'll be my chance to prove to EPW that I am exactly what I say I am against one of the best technical wrestlers in the world.
Astros shakes his head with confidence.
ASTROS: The greatest wrestler on God's green Earth. I don't say it because it sounds good, I say it because I believe it! Any night, any opponent, I can beat anyone in the world, and Karl Brown, you're no exception! At Aggression I will make a statement to Empire Pro Wrestling! Too bad, Karl, that it'll be at your expense.
Fade to black on a confident challenger to the Television champion.
EpyonMarx
New member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 1,004
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Nottingham, England
- Website
- www.karl-brown.co.uk
Re: AGGRESSION 54: Non-Title Match - Karl "The Dragon" Brown (c) vs. Donovan Astros
[FADE IN. “The Dragon” is sitting in a familiar spot – the branches of an oak tree]
Karl: It’s amazing. Whenever somebody in wrestling takes a couple of days away from the cameras, people start wondering if and implying that they’re, a, scared, b, scared, or c, scared. Never does someone actually take the time to think, hey, maybe they’re just busy. Maybe they’re on the road and not near a television or computer – shocking though that is to hear. Somewhere without TV or a computer… no, must be that the other person is scared or doesn’t take their opponent seriously.
Which is something that seems to happen whenever someone shows an interest in things other than wrestling. I remember several people – the previous TV title holder included – saying things along the lines of you’ve got to give this business absolutely everything you’ve got, no days off, you’ve got to fight and climb to the top with professional wrestling as your raison d’etre in every fibre of your being. If you’ve got an outside interest, you’re not taking people seriously.
Hi, I’m Karl Brown, and I have a life outside of wrestling. I’m sorry if my listening to an album and taking notes before I reviewed it for a guest slot on radio offended you, Donovan, but you might want to remember that there is a thing away from the ring called the rest of a person’s life. If someone listens to music, it doesn’t mean they don’t take you seriously as an opponent – just that they enjoy listening to music, or get paid for something else. In my case, it’s both. Same as how I read and write. You need something away from wrestling, and from time to time, I take a couple of days off. I still hit the gym or do something to train, but just because I don’t watch TV religiously or call the front office and demand that a camera crew flies over to England there and then so I can tape more random ramblings doesn’t mean I don’t take you seriously. I’d be an idiot if that was true.
Because I have researched Donovan Astros – after finding that typing Donovan into Google brings up lots of song lyrics from someone my dad used to know. True story.
I do know what you bring to the ring, Donovan. And I know that one slip in the ring, and not only would I lose the match, but potentially be put out of action for a long time. Between the open and closing bell, I’m very serious.
But, I should look at the situation at hand, shouldn’t I. We’ve got a new World Champion! Wow. It’s not like I haven’t seen that done before – I remember Christian Sands, Beast, Lindsay Troy, Joey Melton and Sean Stevens winning World titles while I watched on the monitors back stage. We’ve got a new number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship – which is something I’ve seen a fair few times seeing as I held that belt for almost two years myself before I left. The situation has changed… or not. To be honest with you, the situation in Empire Pro Wrestling is the same now as it was after Black Dawn in two thousand and four – people vying for position, trying to become the next in line to get a crack at someone holding a title. Nothing but a few names has really changed. Then again, I am a big picture of life kind of person.
Now, on to what went down on Aggression. You dominated Shawn, yes. But are you really using the “I got tired breaking my knuckles on his face” excuse for why you weren’t able to dominate me? Do you think that should make any difference to the self-professed greatest wrestler on God’s green earth? As good as you say you are, wailing away on Shawn should’ve been a nice easy warm-up. As good as you are, with the accolades you’ve won, you should’ve been able to take me to task and pick me apart, even if you’d already wrestled three times that night.
Or are you saying that all I have to do is run around the ring, tire you out, and I can blow you down with a feather for the pin? I could try something like that if you’d like, I’ve got a lot of stamina, and if the shots you hit me with at Aggression are anything to go by I don’t have to worry about an early knock-out.
Seriously, Donovan – is that all you’ve got? Because if it is, it won’t be enough.
You re right about one thing, though – I am your chance to show Empire Pro what you can do. I am your chance to show Empire Pro that unlike the who’s who of professional wrestling who’ve tried to do the same thing, you’re able to best me with ease. You’re not simply sensational – you’re not part of an entourage – you’re not pissed off because I’m called The Dragon – you’re the greatest wrestler on God’s green earth.
It’s a big chance for you, Donovan. Because out of all the people who’ve wrestled in Empire Pro very, very few have managed to beat me. And so far, nobody has been able to dominate me. Some nights I haven’t been at my absolute best and I’ve lost, yes – but even then, people haven’t found me an easy opponent.
And do you want to know a secret, Donovan? I’m not even the best Empire Pro currently has on the roster.
Oh my word, did a professional wrestler actually admit they weren’t the best? That’s as rare as them having a life away from the ring! Call the press!
[He takes a couple of moments, laughing to himself]
Karl: At Aggression, Donovan, the TV title isn’t on the line. Not by choice, I don’t mind if the title is up for grabs or not. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy like so many champions have done. I know full well what you’re hoping to do – dominate me and use me as a spring-board to get to the next level, wherever that is for you. And while I won’t lose any sleep if you do beat me, you should know that when you step foot in the ring with me, I’m not a springboard. I’m not someone you can look beyond. When I came back to Empire Pro and won the Television title in my third match back, I proved that as good as I used to be, I’m even better now. One mistake from you, and you’ll be looking up at the lights wondering where your next potential springboard is. One moment’s lapse of concentration, and your dream of sprinting straight to the top a la Sean Stevens, is put on hold.
I may not be the best, currently, that Empire Pro has to offer. But from everything I’ve seen, Donovan, neither are you. And guess which one is going to get to that level first?
Oh… and, in case you’re interested, Iron Maiden’s new album is a good buy. Not their strongest, but a bit of fun.
Looks like those few days having a life weren’t totally wasted, huh?
[Karl places his hands behind his head and leans back against the trunk of the oak. FADE OUT]
[FADE IN. “The Dragon” is sitting in a familiar spot – the branches of an oak tree]
Karl: It’s amazing. Whenever somebody in wrestling takes a couple of days away from the cameras, people start wondering if and implying that they’re, a, scared, b, scared, or c, scared. Never does someone actually take the time to think, hey, maybe they’re just busy. Maybe they’re on the road and not near a television or computer – shocking though that is to hear. Somewhere without TV or a computer… no, must be that the other person is scared or doesn’t take their opponent seriously.
Which is something that seems to happen whenever someone shows an interest in things other than wrestling. I remember several people – the previous TV title holder included – saying things along the lines of you’ve got to give this business absolutely everything you’ve got, no days off, you’ve got to fight and climb to the top with professional wrestling as your raison d’etre in every fibre of your being. If you’ve got an outside interest, you’re not taking people seriously.
Hi, I’m Karl Brown, and I have a life outside of wrestling. I’m sorry if my listening to an album and taking notes before I reviewed it for a guest slot on radio offended you, Donovan, but you might want to remember that there is a thing away from the ring called the rest of a person’s life. If someone listens to music, it doesn’t mean they don’t take you seriously as an opponent – just that they enjoy listening to music, or get paid for something else. In my case, it’s both. Same as how I read and write. You need something away from wrestling, and from time to time, I take a couple of days off. I still hit the gym or do something to train, but just because I don’t watch TV religiously or call the front office and demand that a camera crew flies over to England there and then so I can tape more random ramblings doesn’t mean I don’t take you seriously. I’d be an idiot if that was true.
Because I have researched Donovan Astros – after finding that typing Donovan into Google brings up lots of song lyrics from someone my dad used to know. True story.
I do know what you bring to the ring, Donovan. And I know that one slip in the ring, and not only would I lose the match, but potentially be put out of action for a long time. Between the open and closing bell, I’m very serious.
But, I should look at the situation at hand, shouldn’t I. We’ve got a new World Champion! Wow. It’s not like I haven’t seen that done before – I remember Christian Sands, Beast, Lindsay Troy, Joey Melton and Sean Stevens winning World titles while I watched on the monitors back stage. We’ve got a new number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship – which is something I’ve seen a fair few times seeing as I held that belt for almost two years myself before I left. The situation has changed… or not. To be honest with you, the situation in Empire Pro Wrestling is the same now as it was after Black Dawn in two thousand and four – people vying for position, trying to become the next in line to get a crack at someone holding a title. Nothing but a few names has really changed. Then again, I am a big picture of life kind of person.
Now, on to what went down on Aggression. You dominated Shawn, yes. But are you really using the “I got tired breaking my knuckles on his face” excuse for why you weren’t able to dominate me? Do you think that should make any difference to the self-professed greatest wrestler on God’s green earth? As good as you say you are, wailing away on Shawn should’ve been a nice easy warm-up. As good as you are, with the accolades you’ve won, you should’ve been able to take me to task and pick me apart, even if you’d already wrestled three times that night.
Or are you saying that all I have to do is run around the ring, tire you out, and I can blow you down with a feather for the pin? I could try something like that if you’d like, I’ve got a lot of stamina, and if the shots you hit me with at Aggression are anything to go by I don’t have to worry about an early knock-out.
Seriously, Donovan – is that all you’ve got? Because if it is, it won’t be enough.
You re right about one thing, though – I am your chance to show Empire Pro what you can do. I am your chance to show Empire Pro that unlike the who’s who of professional wrestling who’ve tried to do the same thing, you’re able to best me with ease. You’re not simply sensational – you’re not part of an entourage – you’re not pissed off because I’m called The Dragon – you’re the greatest wrestler on God’s green earth.
It’s a big chance for you, Donovan. Because out of all the people who’ve wrestled in Empire Pro very, very few have managed to beat me. And so far, nobody has been able to dominate me. Some nights I haven’t been at my absolute best and I’ve lost, yes – but even then, people haven’t found me an easy opponent.
And do you want to know a secret, Donovan? I’m not even the best Empire Pro currently has on the roster.
Oh my word, did a professional wrestler actually admit they weren’t the best? That’s as rare as them having a life away from the ring! Call the press!
[He takes a couple of moments, laughing to himself]
Karl: At Aggression, Donovan, the TV title isn’t on the line. Not by choice, I don’t mind if the title is up for grabs or not. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy like so many champions have done. I know full well what you’re hoping to do – dominate me and use me as a spring-board to get to the next level, wherever that is for you. And while I won’t lose any sleep if you do beat me, you should know that when you step foot in the ring with me, I’m not a springboard. I’m not someone you can look beyond. When I came back to Empire Pro and won the Television title in my third match back, I proved that as good as I used to be, I’m even better now. One mistake from you, and you’ll be looking up at the lights wondering where your next potential springboard is. One moment’s lapse of concentration, and your dream of sprinting straight to the top a la Sean Stevens, is put on hold.
I may not be the best, currently, that Empire Pro has to offer. But from everything I’ve seen, Donovan, neither are you. And guess which one is going to get to that level first?
Oh… and, in case you’re interested, Iron Maiden’s new album is a good buy. Not their strongest, but a bit of fun.
Looks like those few days having a life weren’t totally wasted, huh?
[Karl places his hands behind his head and leans back against the trunk of the oak. FADE OUT]