Deja Vu: Eli Flair and Blade Revisited
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Fade In: August 6th, 1999….HEW Mayhem Main Event]
[Clips of archived footage from the sold out main event flash across the screen, as Blade and Eli Flair engage in one of the most epic back and forth battles in professional wrestling history. The two men battle for over 30 minutes, before ultimately coming to a draw. This meeting marks the first and only time that these two legends have ever come face-to-face in the squared circle, that is, until now.]
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Fade In: July 20th, 2012….after a brief walk down memory lane, we now find ourselves in present day 2012. Minutes removed from the completion of the Sweet Sixteen Round of the Ultratitle Tournament, we find ourselves within the back locker room. This has been the scene of over 100 broken dreams, as the field has now been narrowed down to eight wrestlers over a three month period. Sitting in solitude is one of those remaining competitors, Kendall Codine. Arguably one of the biggest underdogs coming in to this tournament, as he decided to reappear on the wrestling scene after an eight year absence, Codine continues to press on round by round. His confidence continues to grow as he continues to progress towards the ultimate goal of winning the tournament. Steven Jackson, Troy Franklin, Mikey Massacre, Kiyomori….each opponent along the way has provided unique challenges, with each being nearly foreign to Codine. That all changes in the round of eight, as Codine will now face his biggest challenge to date.]
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Codine sits on a bench, his hands are interlocked with one another, as his elbows rest upon his knees. His wrestling gear is still fresh with the sweat the encompassed his body upon defeating Kiyomori. A towel is draped over his head, covering his face from the view of the camera. Despite a lack of eye-to-eye focus, Codine begins to speak and address his next opponent.
Codine:
”Total Elimination” Eli Flair….
It’s been a long time my old friend. Who would have thought that when this tournament started, two old men like us would silence all doubters and make it this far?
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Codine gradually lifts his head, exposing a smirk upon his face in response to the rhetorical question.]
Codine: I know, I know….we both did. Looking up and down the list of participants in this tournament, I knew it was only a matter of time before I encountered someone of familiarity….and here we are Eli. Reflecting upon my career, I find it intriguing that our paths only crossed once as opposition to one another. Do you remember that night Eli? It was nearly 13 years ago, as we brought the crowd to their feet and ushered HEW into a new era of dominance as one of the fastest growing organizations on the east coast.
We beat each other within an inch of our lives and I quickly learned why you were referred to as the “King of Extreme”. We both know that
J-Smooth never appreciated the attention we brought to his company by sacrificing our bodies on that night, but I can tell you that my respect for you as a wrestler was solidified in stone after that night and I forever became a fan of Eli Flair.
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Codine lowers his head once again, hiding his face underneath the towel that is draped upon his head.]
Codine: That respect for you and our inevitable encounter is like a breath of fresh air. Round by round, I’ve had to banter back and forth with naïve youths who somehow attempted to justify why they belong or how they were going to walk through this tournament. For this very reason, that’s why I smile when I see the names Flair….Melton….and Cruise still alive in this tournament. Men who understand my struggle and what it takes to be successful in this business….
It’s not the blind eagerness of youth, as displayed by Steven Jackson and Vagabond that breeds success….
It’s not the arrogance of Troy Franklin or Sean Edmunds that carries one to the finals….
And it’s definitely not the whining, crying, and utterly quitting before the match even starts like Eric Dane did two rounds ago that wins championships….
No, it’s more than one single quality and that’s what the likes of each of us have come to understand. I have said from the start, I have come to realize and accept that each round could be my last. There is nothing to be lost on my behalf, as I would simply fade into obscurity and become nothing more than wrestling lure again. That’s what has made me dangerous and that’s what each of my opponents has failed to acknowledge….
But that all changes in this round….why you ask?
Because Eli Flair is a man from the same mold. Just like me, you have accomplished everything this sport has had to offer….
Multiple World Championships….
Endless amounts of extraneous undercard championships….
Wrestled in front of sold out crowds, within packed arenas….
Been part of numerous matches of the years….
You name, Eli has done it. Except for one thing….
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Codine slowly raises his hand and displays his pointer finger to signify the number one. He then takes that same finger and points to a poster on the wall. The poster is one of many promotional designs for the 2012 Ultratitle Championship, displaying the past champions….Michael Manson, Nova, and Joey Melton.]
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Codine lowers his arm into a resting position once again before moving on.]
Codine: The Ultratitle Championship….that is the
ONE thing that has eluded us both Eli and unfortunately, one of our dreams will have to end soon. And as much as I respect you Eli, my wrestling return tour is not going to end on this stop. I certainly don’t believe that you’re going to pull an Eric Dane and just roll over to die either.
So I guess I have one question for you Eli….
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Codine raises his head, removes the towel, and stares into the eye of the camera.]
Codine: Do you have one more
go left in you Eli? One more time like we did 13 years ago. Move for move, blow for blow, blood for blood….can you do it one last time Eli and make this particular match in the round of eight, one that they’ll talk about forever in professional wrestling history?
I know I can….
And I’m looking forward to it….
Eli, you know what comes next and for your sake, I hope you don’t ignore the foreshadowing of the warning I’ve provided for those before you….
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Codine raises from his seat before offering his final address.]
THE END IS NEAR….
[Fade Out]