Reflection: Full Circle.
FADE IN.
(A view from the Top Of The Rock, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, New York. The deep blue of the clear night sky acts as a cloak above, but the moonlight shines down and illuminates-- along with the city lights-- to give us a clear view of the skyline uptown. A lush landscape of green stands out immediately, with bushy treetops and a lake at the far end, as Central Park is surrounded by the buildings and roads of New York City. Far off to the left, we spot a bridge connecting the island borough with another. Zooming out, we see Larry Tact staring out at the sprawling scene, back turned to us. He is dressed in stonewashed blue Alfani jeans; a black Ralph Lauren polo shirt and boots; his golden blonde hair tied back.)
LARRY TACT: "At Black Dawn 2008, I arrived onto the EPW scene. I said I was here to make a new mark in wrestling-- start somewhere fresh, where I could further extend my legacy, and show yet another audience that Larry Tact was the wrestler that others should aspire to beat. I said the category of wrestler doesn't matter; I don't discriminate; I don't respect. Plain and simple..."
"I win."
"And I did win. Tag Champions were set down. Former World Champions were set down. I earned a shot at the Intercontinental Champion by beating the title holder."
"But I didn't follow through with an Intercontinental title win, back then."
(He turns around, a small grin actually on display.)
"For the most part, I've been successful in EPW. However, I find it hasn't been the wins that have truly taken measure of me. Obviously, everyone needs to win, needs the successes, at some point. And they come deservedly when you wrestle in EPW. But the defeats, the setbacks, and everything that comes along with them... those can reveal some very raw and real aspects."
"I lost to Troy Douglas, for the Intercontinental Championship, back in 2008. I didn't like it, but I didn't go home. I took the next match, and every one since then. I pushed to reach that next step in this promotion: becoming a Champion. I won tag titles, and kept on pushing."
(He reaches over and brings into view the EPW Television Championship.)
"And now, almost four years later, I have that singles title. But it isn't the way I had thought it would be. Also, I'm not stopping by any stretch."
(The title is slung over his shoulder, but the grin has leveled out to a more somber expression.)
"Because over the course of my time here, I've needed to develop more than I thought. Which is why it's really fitting that Teddy Alexander is my first opponent as an EPW Champion."
(He clasps his hands together.)
"Teddy, it seems you already had a chunk of my history on hand. I don't think you're being offensive; I just couldn't tell if you were impressed by my accolades, or excited at the opportunity to knock off someone with those accolades in your EPW debut. Either way, that's for you to sort out."
"Here's something you may not know about me: in my debut TV match on this circuit, I faced a guy named "SuperStar" Ruger. The name probably doesn't mean anything to almost anyone, now, but the fact is he was a pretty accomplished wrestler-- a former World Heavyweight Champion, in fact. I was viewed as the underdog, of course. But being in one of the big-time promotions of the era, I wasn't going to be punked out by some guy who talked about how great he was; what he projected would be another World Championship reign in his future; and generally wrote me off as a piece of trash nothing. I was determined not to let him disrespect me, and keep me from where I wanted to go. And after what seemed like an eternity of preparation finally shrank to nothing, and bell time arrived, I went in and won the match."
"Everyone wants to experience that high, that rush of winning your television debut."
"And now, like I said, I find myself coming full circle. Once again, I'm involved in a debut match, with a former World Champion..."
"Except I'm the former Champion facing the hungry rookie, who's done his homework, gunning for me."
(He hooks his thumbs in his pockets, and shrugs.)
"Teddy, I'll tell you something else... if this was 2008, and I had defeated Troy Douglas to become EPW Intercontinental Champion, and then you debuted against me? This could be a completely different match. Your chances of duplicating what I did to Ruger? Probably better. Because I may have been more like Ruger-- arrogant, disrespectful, talking about my future as EPW World Champion."
"Instead, I have walked a path of four years as a contender for singles gold in the Empire. I have yet to show everyone that I am the outright best pure wrestler this promotion has to offer. The truth is, after Russian Roulette... I acknowledged someone here who straight-up outwrestled me. I found someone I could respect."
"Point being, things rarely go how you plan them out, especially in wrestling. I never thought it would take me four years just to stake my claim as one of the three best in the Empire. But it did, and maybe even, I'm better off for it."
"Now here's where the truth may sting. Since I've already had my wake-up call here, I'm making sure not to end up as another Ruger. My immediate concerns have nothing to do with the First, or the EPW World Heavyweight Championship. I'm concerned with establishing this Television Championship as a valuable and viable icon of EPW. That means I represent it, whether it's on the line or not, with every match I wrestle. It begins with Aggression 66, and you, Teddy."
(He glances back at the view from the Top Of The Rock, and points at it, momentarily, before turning back..)
"There's a lot to see in this city, you know? People visiting will generally take in the best and brightest. But if you want the best experience, you'll sacrifice a little of the trendiest sites in order to find some gems that the locals enjoy. Then you end up with an even better scope and understanding of what this city has to offer."
"I came to EPW with my sights set on only the best and the brightest. But there's a reason why Dave, Dean, and the fans really got behind me when I finally claimed one of those spots, last Aggression. It isn't because I was the biggest fan favorite all this time; that's for sure. I've gotten my hands dirty. But I did what I've done for my entire career, and that's earn it."
"All those titles you listed off, Teddy, all the accolades? As you were talking, it dawned on me that I really haven't paid much attention to them, recently. Because while you get the idea that I'm a great wrestler, and you watch my tapes to see what I do in the ring... you won't ever know who I am from all that. I used to think like you, too. I studied all the tape I could find; went to the gym to spar against similar-styled opposition; and became an encyclopedia on my opponents. But I found out just as much, or more, about them one I faced them in the ring."
"People tend to assume too much when they do what the majority of people do to prepare. There are too many things that just don't translate. And there's a reason why the best generally don't talk about tape; cut promos in gyms; and go through their opponent's résumé."
"Whether you're ready or not, though, Teddy... Aggression 66, I show EPW how you stack up with the best of us. That happens, regardless of anything. Just don't get bent when you find out this sh**'s not so easy as doing your best to prepare, and showing up with every contingency plotted out. I can tell you from experience, winning isn't the only way of making an impression. I'm not trying to bullsh** you, either-- just check the early list of 2012 Match of the Year prospects."
"But hey, it's your time to shine, Teddy. You drew the EPW Television Champion. You have a chance to make a huge splash in your debut."
"Just... don't f**k it up."
(He shrugs and walks out of view. The shot zooms back in on the view from the Top Of The Rock. )
FADE OUT.