To The Journey
FADE IN...
Open on a high school gym on the outskirts of Greensboro, NC. The fairly new building is the home of the East Lake Preparatory School Cougars. The gym is currently empty, save for a single man, who the camera focuses in on. Almost 28 years old, tall and lanky, with unremarkable brown hair and brown eyes, this is professional wrestler TROY DOUGLAS. DOUGLAS, wearing a pair of green and white ELP basketball shorts and an EPW Aggression t-shirt, leans against a wall underneath one of the basketball hoops.
DOUGLAS:
Sometimes, when you need to prepare, there's nothing better than going back to where it all began. That's right here, in this gym. The hours upon hours that I spent in this place, hell, there's probably enough of my blood and sweat in this parquet floor by now for this gym to be a close relative of mine.
But, I'm not here to wax poetic about the good old days here at ELP. Rather, this is my chance to speak to the world about my upcoming match in Atlanta for the number one contendership to the EPW World Title and a guaranteed pay-per-view match against either Christian Sands or Beast.
If you remember, I was in the exact same position in New York City two months ago, in a four way elimination match for the very same slot. That night, Marcus Wescott decided to join the Cameron Cruise Fan Club and cost me the shot at the World Title that I had earned by outlasting three of the best in the sport.
Two months later, it's just a different building, two new opponents, and one fewer man in the ring. But, there's something else in this match that's different as well.
ME.
In the weeks surrounding Black Dawn, I had my chain jerked around so much that I swore I'd change. After Rocko Daymon hit me with a chair, Beast cost me the number one contendership, and Adam Benjamin screwed me out of the Intercontinental Title, I vowed to never get taken advantage of in that squared circle again.
Now, I've got the opportunity to reclaim the spot I earned at Black Dawn. This time around, I won't make any stupid mistakes that'll leave me high and dry once again.
That being said, that doesn't mean I won't have to pull out one of the best performances of my career to win this one. Which brings me to my two opponents at Unleashed; Karl "The Dragon" Brown and Tyrone Walker. Karl, as I know you're a gracious guy, I'm sure you won't mind if I first take the opportunity to say a few choice words to Mr. Walker before moving on to acknowledge you.
Tyrone, in recent weeks you've gotten the impression that you're somehow bigger than Empire Pro Wrestling. You believe that for some reason, you're just preternaturally better than every man in this company. Hell, I'll give you your due. You've got a boatload of talent, and you can do some stuff in that ring that most of us have never seen. Your dilemma, Tyrone, is that there are many things that you simply do not understand.
In my 4 plus years in this sport, I've realized many things. In particular, that no one, not Dan Ryan, not Hornet, not Christian Sands, not Troy Douglas, not Tyrone Walker, is bigger than this business. Secondly, that if you don't have respect for the men who sign your checks AND the men across the ring from you, then you lack the essential quality to succeed in professional wrestling. Hell, I was steamed when management didn't do anything to stop guys from screwing me out of my matches. But, I had enough respect to not make it my sworn mission to destroy this company. No, I took matters into my own hands, and now I'm just one step away from a match for the World Title.
Tyrone, by pulling stunts like you did last week against Beast, and by repeatedly aggrandizing yourself over this company, you show me that you lack that essential respect. For that reason, I fear for you at Unleashed, Tyrone. You're going into a match with two of the finest wrestlers in the world, and you don't even have concern enough to acknowledge the two of us with your own words. I'm sure you'll come into the Georgia Dome with your full arsenal of topes, planchas, pescados, Space Flying Tiger Drops, and the like, but you'll also enter this match knowing that you've got two opponents aching to prove that they're the best in the world, an illusion you already hold of yourself.
I leave you alone for now, until you decide to dignify us with some remarks, and MAYBE some respect to this company.
Now, onto a man I have immense respect for, an opponent I consider a kindred spirit, Karl Brown. Dragon, you've done a hell of a lot more in your first 12 months in this business than I did, and for that, you've earned the respect of every man on this circuit. You're attitude now is the same as mine was back when I started. The thirst to prove yourself, the willingness to take on any challenge no matter the consequence, yeah, I was just as eager that first year as you are now. Problem for me was, I was stuck wrestling in Bingo Halls and armories instead of Madison Square Garden.
That doesn't mean I fault you for your early successes. No, it just means we've taken different paths, as all of us must.
The only flaw I see in you, Karl, is the fact that you seem to think that even if you fail, there will always be another chance. From experience, I can tell you that this is most certainly not the case. I've had my career nearly ended on several occasions by some of the most dangerous men in this sport. When my father and my fiancee were murdered, I came close on two occasions to not only giving up my wrestling career, but also my entire life. There is most definetely NOT always a second chance, Karl. In the blink of an eye, everything you worked for could be gone. The only reason I'm still in this business is because I never lost that desire to be the best.
That's why at Unleashed, I'll show that I've got absolutely nothing left to lose. That World Title is my only remaining goal now, the one thing that continues to elude me. Nothing's going to push me back down this time. Even if you or Walker gets the better of me in Atlanta, I'll keep scratching and clawing my way to the top of the mountain, just like always.
But, I don't plan for it to have to take that long. At Unleashed, I will take nothing for granted. What I bring to the ring that night will be left in the ring when it's over, and when that happens, no matter the result, I'll know I can go on, that I can continually stake my reputation as one of the best competitors in this sport. I'll pull out my best at Unleashed, and I know that's enough to stand toe to toe with any man in this sport.
Adam Benjamin knows it, Cameron Cruise knows it, and our esteemed World Champion knows it. In Atlanta, I'll make sure you two find out. This won't be my last chance, because I'm not going anywhere, but I don't want to have to take another.
End of the road, here I come.
I'll be waiting, boys.
...FADE OUT