(The
sun is setting in Bermuda. I'm outside in the patio, my feet propped up
on a chair next to me, a Landshark Lager in my left hand. I hit record
on the camera.)
VIRUS: It would seem that my esteemed opponent has given up hope already. Why, Kyle? Have you heard of Marcus Collins logic?
Any given night. It applies to everything. No matter what, on any given
night, anybody can be beaten. But, it seems you've already thrown in
the towel, and I can't help but feel a little pissed off about that.
People have mocked you, laughed at you, and claimed that you were their
easiest win. People use you as a punchline, but I'm not people, Kyle. I
didn't do those things. I never mocked you, underestimated you, and
even try to claim they you were going to be my easiest win. I'm taking
you seriously, and I'm going to give you everything I got. Yet, all you
have to say is that I'm going to cut through you like a hot knife
through butter.
That's pathetic, Kyle. You are better than that.
You don't have the best record ever, and you've only won the Television
title and held on to that beauty for a week. So, yeah, on paper you're
not exactly the cream of the crop. On paper, I should dominate you and
go on to face Nightmare or Enika
at the next pay-per-view. But, that's why you need to know about
Collins logic, because statistics and probabilities don't mean anything
when it comes to wrestling. That gets thrown out the window in a harsh
way.
I make one mistake and I pay for it. It could end up a close call, or
the end of the match with your hand being raised in the air. That's how
quickly things can change and that's how abrupt you can come out the
winner, when ninety nine percent of people think I'm going to win.
Sure, history shows I don't make very many mistakes, but I'm not
perfect. You just have to be there at the right moment and have the balls to capitalize on it. You do that... and you might end up facing the Intercontinental Champion in June.
(I
pause for a moment. June reminds me of my wife and daughter... and the
great times we had last summer. A smile on my face for the first time
in... forever.)
VIRUS:
Maybe you are a stepping stone for me, Kyle, but it's going to be a big
stone to step over. I don't think you're a pushover, and I never will.
Despite obvious differences, you and I are fairly similar. Every week
we come out and we wrestle to the best
of our ability. We don't always win, but we don't whine about it. We
don't complain and bitch like a lot of people here do. We win or we
lose, and we move on.
But sometimes people make it personal, and then you have to put the drink aside and take care of business, as you said.
Your A game isn't gone, Kyle, you're just lacking the confidence and
heart to bring it back up to the surface. You do that... and you and I
just maybe will put on the best match of the night.
I'll be honest, this is one of the first matches in a long time where I
haven't felt rage or hatred against my opponent. It's a weird feeling,
something I'll try and get used to. But it seems I've made a lot of
enemies in this place, and it's not entirely my fault. Men I've gone up
against in the last three months, most of them I've had some grudge
against. Something they did, either to me or my family, and they needed
to pay for it. This week is not the case. This week I can relax... and
let my wrestling do the talking. This week, I can concentrate on
winning and nothing else.
Whether that's good or bad for you, we'll just wait and see.
(I take a rather big drink of my beer. Delicious.)
VIRUS:
Tomorrow night is rapidly approaching, and you've already started
planning my victory party. This isn't the Kyle Stevenson I like to
listen to. This is some new guy, with a bad attitude, and no confidence
whatsoever. How do you expect to win Kyle if you don't have any
confidence in yourself? How do you expect to win if all you can think
about is giving me the satisfaction I need? Yes, I'll be honest, your
chances aren't looking good here, but.. what the fuck man? Why should
that deter you from training harder and trying to give me your best?
It used to be that when you told someone they couldn't do something,
that was the motivation they needed to go out and do it. I've been
doubted by a lot of people throughout my career, but I've proven them
wrong. You need that same drive, Kyle, and maybe -- just maybe -- if
you manage to beat me tomorrow night, you might get it. But, I highly
suggest getting that motivation before our match, because I'll sense
your weakness and break you in half for it.
There's one thing I won't tolerate... self-loathing and self-doubt. You
show me that you still have confidence in yourself and believe in
yourself, and I won't tear you apart. You know why? Because you won't allow it.
I need your best, Kyle, because this is pay-per-view. This is High
Stakes... and there's something on the line here. This is yet another
chance for you to prove yourself that you're a fucking contender here
and you deserve this.
Or maybe you should just go back to preparing my victory party. The choice is yours.
about that.