Match: The Crowning Tournament
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Event: The Crowning: Epic Homecoming
Date: Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
Belt: All Singles Gold On The Line
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What Does It Mean To You…

That’s something I though about the entire time I was jogging down the path next to the beach. For the moment I’m taking it easy sitting on a rock that’s placed under a palm tree, as I look out over the vastness that is the ocean, and the sun gleams off the sea, and seems to reflect causing the light to dance across my Giorgio Armani sunglasses. In this tranquil spot I can’t help but think what this week means to me, what the one night back where I grew up will mean. That is my shot, my chance to show the world that I’m ready to take my place as a World Champion.

To me that belt means everything, not only does it signify that you get the big matches, the larger paychecks and all of those nice things, but most importantly it shows that you are the very best this business has to offer. The eWo championship quite literally for most of us is the reason we get up every morning, the reason we sacrifice times with our friends, and family. It’s the reason I get up every morning and run, it’s the reason I spend hours in the gym both working out and training in the ring. It’s the reason that any moment I have to myself, I watch countless hours of tape, the eWo Championship means everything.

I’m well aware that it’s going to take me to hell and back in this tournament, I know there’s a possibility just like in any match, where something can go wrong and I could wind up never able to wrestle again or worse. Some might say well why would you risk it all just for a title. As if they don’t understand what this title symbolizes and what it means to the man that wears it. For me I figure that if you’re not in this business to win the eWo championship then you have no need of being here. That’s the honest to god truth, but I’m not going to focus on the lives of others because it doesn’t matter, all that matters is what I can do, what I can achieve, given the shot.

It’s amazing to think that the last time I had a shot at the World Title it was in a situation just like this, back in BwF, we all knew soon as that match was over we were heading to eWo. That one night in my first ever world title match, I came so close against perhaps one of the best wrestlers in the entire world in Legend. I’m not going to lie, he is as great as he says he is.

Then again so am I.

No matter what anyone thinks, I have always been a main eventer and a champion, yes I’ve had to pay my dues from my days in MEW, through BwF, to eWo and more. I wouldn’t change that for a minute though, all of that uprising of sorts has benefited me so and I so many to thank for helping mold me so that I could make it through the business like I have, I admit I’ve teachers, but never have they done any of the real work for me, I have done that all myself. I’m at the top of my game and I owe it all to my hard work. Now would I go through it all again, let me think about that…

In a heart-beat.

However this week isn’t about going back to the beginning this week is about starting a new beginning, it’s about starting a new era and it’s about crowing a new champion. By the end of this week, there will be a new World Champion, many men want to be it, but none more then myself. At the Crowing, I will be going to my hometown for a true homecoming, what better way to go to homecoming though then being the king as it were. I will leave that night crowned …

Crowned World Champion, I’m not claming it’s destiny I’m just saying that if everything goes right all my hard work will pay off and I will finally earn what I knew I was capable of winning and taking my place where I know I belong. If you ask me the phrase eWo Champion, AJ Donavon has a very nice ring to it.

Then again, why wouldn’t it that eWo Title means everything to me. It tops the list, it’s more important then my Trendsetter Ink shop, which is doing great by the way, it takes president over the private jet I own, the sports car, the mansion I have, or the wonderful girlfriend I have waiting for me back at the house.

Sure all those other things are important but add those things up and then top it off with the chance to be eWo champion… that right there will truly be what the Good-life has to offer, and that alone shall bring me the chance to become what I aspire to be.

eWo Champion.

You know no matter how long I have away from this business, or how often I stay put in one promotion or another it never stops amazing me at just how stupid a lot of these younger stars are. Now sure I’m young also, and yes I’m arrogant and I have an ego, but the difference is I’ve earned mine. However then there’s guys that step up and have an ego for no apparent reason, people like Freddy Castro. You see Freddy it’s people like you that give younger stars such as myself a bad name for acting like we own the place and thinking that there great and know everything. See Freddy, What you need to understand is that though were both young I am nothing like you, I am not a disgrace to this business. I don’t talk shit when I know I can’t back it up and before I go and base and entire point of verbal attack on someone I at least do a little thing called research so I don’t end up looking like you. You know a ignorant, no talented jobber who thinks that because he says a couple things people might think sound good he’s got a chance, punk bitch, like yourself. See Freddy, you seem to talk an awful lot about stuff you know nothing about, for all the time you spend trying to convince the viewing public that I can’t get things done on my own, was time totally wasted. For if you had any smarts about you at all, you might have wanted to check out the tapes, Sure I’m part of the Iconoclast, but they by no means made me a winner, I did that all on my own. Yes there like brothers to me, but this isn’t about the Clast, this is about what I can do, and despite what you think, I have done a hell of a lot, you can see my title history each and every single thing on that list I have accomplished without help.

Go ahead check the BwF tapes even, because despite being on a team they where never present at ringside at any point where I won, the Primetime Title, the Happenstance Tournament the eWo Valor Championship or anything else for that matter. I have always won my matches on my own, that’s how I’ve always done things and that’s how I always will. You see Freddy, just because I have something called friends doesn’t mean I need them to win matches for me, not regular ones or matches with gold on the line. You will find that out first hand when you come down to that ring on Sunday and I beat that information into your skull so that you never, ever will forget that detail. I don’t expect you to understand how I’ve won all the accolades I have with out help, because compared to me your just a jobber – and that’s all your ever be, when all is said and done in the first round on Sunday you will know that beyond a shadow of a doubt that unlike you, I am greatness, I am the future of this business and you are just a waste of space. I’m going to take great pride in sending you back down to the lower mid card where you belong. Oh and Freddy no matter how hard you try to discredit me – you know you wish you could have done half the things I have championship wise, but no matter what you say, no matter how much you try to crack jokes and talk like your sure of your abilities and are as good as I am, you will never ever be as good as me, and most hurtful I’m sure is that try as you might, you will never ever be me. Come the crowing I’m going to do the world a favor and take the pathetic little star you’ve made yourself and snuff it out.

Speaking of people who have made them selves look stupid, I have to give some credit to Anthony Booth, you see he questions as to why I would have said something about him if he’s just a mid carder, well Anthony the reason I mentioned you is simple, it’s because no matter what level you are, I know that there is a possibility we could meet in a match at some point during the Crowning tournament, so that’s why I mentioned you, you see should that happen, I know I need not worry because I had your number the last time we fought back in eWo and that was right when you were holding a belt you held so dear… the Valor Championship … yes a belt that was so important to you, a belt you held with pride… a belt that I hung disrespectfully from the belt of pants. You see Anthony, as I told you before you are good, and you’ll be a big star one day, but I’m the star of now. No matter how good you think you are Booth, I have always been that much better, and while you made yourself a great champion in the valor level which is to say the Jobber level, I was making my way to the main event, I was taking on the top level stars, I earned the respect of the legends of this sport. I showed the world that I was capable of main eventing. Since then I have only gotten better, and learned more, and you I see your still as ignorant as ever, figuring that the sun shines out of your ass. What you fail to realize is however that when you step into the ring against a man of my caliber you just can’t hack it and if that happens at the crowing you won’t be able to hack it then either. Because you see Booth, your good … your valor level good, but at the crowing good won’t cut it. Especially not when it’s compared to great, that’s just the way it is Booth. Now don’t get me wrong you very well could be waling out a champion, but it will be the freedom champion, where as myself I will be walking out the eWo champion. You don’t need to believe it Anthony, but if we meet in the tournament when I drop you with a faceplant that sends you right back down to the mid card, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Now as far as Reno Drake goes, it’s like we’ve said all along bro, if we have to do battle we will, and I know we will hold nothing back, but at the sametime I’m sorry for what I have to do in that event, because I will put you down for the count, as I will not let anything or anyone stop me from becoming the eWo champion, not even a man I consider a brother. I’m going to do whatever it is I have to do, it’s like you basically said if we step in the ring against one another at the crowning it’s nothing personal … it’s just business. However I’ll be damned if I let you stop my trek for that championship. Because Drake as you well know you have been a world champion and I haven’t, so perhaps as bad as you want to become champion again, I will want it more to finally reach the level that I never have. You can bet your ass that I’m brining everything I’ve got and then some. For I will not rest until I show the world exactly why I am the future of this business. You’ve had your time in the sun once… now it’s time for me to claim mine. Either way I know it will be one hell of a match old friend…. But I have a feeling your not much going to like the outcome… but as we know only one of us can win, and if only one of us can win, you bet your ass it’s going to be me.

Now onto another man that I actually have some respect for, that is Kyle Cross. Now while I find his must win the title for the fans, with the help of the fans rather amusing, I can’t take anything much away from him, sure he’s older then I am, and yes I think his time as being a World Champion material have passed, I am not for one second over looking him, because I know the second I do that, I’ve already lost and that’s something I’m not interested in doing on a normal night, but when it’s on a night like the Crowing that is something I simply cannot do. With everything I’ve worked so hard for to get where I am, I’m not going to let anything stop this chance for me to become the World Champion. Eminem once asked in a song if you had just one shot would grab it or just let it slip. Well for me, I’m not going to let it slip, I came within a eyelash of winning the World title back in BwF, in my first ever world title shot, and since then I never had another chance, however this is my second chance, and second chances hardly ever come along. So Kyle as great as this match between us could be – I’m not going to let you defeat me, not on this night, on this night it’s my time to shine, it’s time for the fastest rising star in this business to reach the pinnacle of his profession. I look forward to our match Cross, as what you said about how you’re the standard that might be true, but mark my word Kyle, when we get into that ring and face off you’ll see just how well I measure up to that standard, and what I’m sure your going to find out by the end of the night is yes you are one hell of a competitor and yes you are great… but for as great as you are I am just that much better. The crowing is the night where I take lead of my generation as the World Champion … and your generation your generation is more then welcome, for without your generation we wouldn’t have ours … they are intertwined and at the end of the night one man will be the link between what has been accomplished and what will be accomplished for the future generations … and that man will be me, AJ Donavon.

After that though … we can celebrate the old generation and the new generation as what has made this company what it is, over a nice cold one as everything we have I’m sure will be left in the ring. At that point we won’t be old vs new, or Canuck versus Canuck. We will just be two men who love this business, only difference is our out look on it … well that and I’ll be there as eWo Champion.

As for the rest of you who seem to think that this match is so in the bag for you that you haven’t even bothered to say anything up until this point. I must say it has gotten to the point where nothing can help you anymore. At this stage of the game if you aren’t serious about an opportunity like this, that comes along only once in a very long time then you are just typical dime a dozen wrestlers. You know who you are boys, but to be honest, That’s fine though, because I’ve seen your types plenty of times before, I’ve heard I’ve heard all the I’m the best,and you ain’t nothing statements... I’ve seen the self hype bought up by the ones spewing that useless un proven garbage from there mouth, just hoping that if they blow enough smoke out there ass nobody will realize that they really suck. However boys, what you need to realize is whatever course you attempt to take from her on out will fail, you might think you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread but you have proved nothing. I’m just glad I’m different then most from my generation since they seem to forget just what it is that makes you a great wrestler. It’s not not saying something that you think makes you sound good and it’s damn sure not thinking that your going to become the world champion in a place like Da Epic without busting your ass for it. If you thought it was, then you need a drastic reality check. Don’t worry though, I’m the guy to provide that to any of you who I may face in that tournament. The way I see it is simple, If you think by sitting back and waiting to see what the competition is going to do or say is a great idea, then you’ve already lost. I’m not the guy you wait for sitting back thinking “oh I’ll get to it.” Or “lets see what someone else says first.” Me personally I bust my ass and that is why I am the best young wrestler in the business today.

For the rest of you that have done what I said not to or thought you’ll get to it later, then you are most certainly not going to be getting the win in this tournament. There is no way in hell you’ll be getting by me. Why? Because I’m not some stupid punk that gets by, just because I say things that I think the people watching want to here. No in fact I’m the opposite I tell the honest too god truth and then back up every damn word in the ring. With me what you see is what you get, I don’t need to pretend to be a king of something, to have something to talk about. I don’t need to have a last name that sounds like upchuck. Or anything else contrived like that. The fact is when push comes to shove, I’m the only guy willing to stand in front of a camera and tell it like I see it. Which is also known as the way it is. This shall be quite simple for all of you to understand as well, which clearly is a good thing because I can already tell I’m dealing with people, that don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground… How do I know that you ask? Simple what kind of people that have a chance at so many titles but most importantly the eWo belt, don’t step up and start speaking about the match and show that they have that fire and the passion. Not most of these people in the tournament, Nope, instead they don’t want to play the hard game. They like to sit back and wait till later hoping that by then they’ve thought of something worthwhile to say. The problem with that is, the longer each and everyone of you wait the farther down in the hole you are, believe it or not but already with everyone of you who are just sitting back. You’ve all just hopped down into that figurative six-foot hole and handed me a shovel.

Which simply means that this match is already over, the games aren’t going to work, you might think your being cool waiting around or biding your time. However by the time you decide to show up you’ll see that you’ve brought a knife to a gun fight and when that happens and you've got yourself looking into a barrel of a loaded gun. You’ll only have those few seconds from when you freeze in fear of what is to come. Until your eyes close and you think about all the mistakes you made and at that point – the signs of danger will flash through your mind in mere milliseconds, you’ll think of how stupid you were for not seeing them before. But it won’t matter for long, Because as quickly as you realize your fatal mistake it will all be over. Just like a snap of the fingers and your mistake has cost you everything you wanted to have so badly. In a blink of an eye each and every single one of you will fail to accomplish that which you desire. All because you did what all dime a dozen wrestlers who think they are great do and that is sit around and think I’ll get to it later. The only problem is when your facing a trendsetter like me, all I need is one mistake from you and your shot at glory is over and your future turns very bleak, while mine just keeps on shining.

Which is exactly what is going to keep on happening, as all of you have made so many mistakes already by not showing dedication or respect enough to this business or the eWo championship, that is a belt that deserves the utmost respect. But nope not you dime a dozen loser you can’t even bother shooting a promo up till now. It’s sad really I honestly figured with all that was on the line in this tournament, that it might be at least a little bit exciting but it’s not. Each of you jobbers is about as exciting as watching paint dry, but oh ya you’ll all some day be the best in the industry won’t you? I bet that’s what you all think but it will never happen. Sorry to bust your bubbles, there Banks, Darling, Herring and to a very lesser extent, Manchak. See what all of you need to realize is there’s a reason why guys like me are considered the best in this business and why guys like you despite when you believe your own self hype, are nothing in this sport. The reality of the matter is, you don’t even deserve to step foot in that same ring is me, but you won’t believe that guys will you? No of course not, why would you? All of you no doubt believe that you’ll be the next important thing, you all think that your making a mark just because your wrestling in front of a big crowd but in the grand scheme of things, just because you’ve wrestled for other so called big promotions doesn’t mean your anything in the eWo... it doesn’t mean your anything when compared a man the caliber of myself. Then again that’s why I set new and innovate trends and you just follow the stereotypical crappy trends.

That’s right I said it you follow typical crappy trends, Now you can call that cliché or think that I’m just talking out my ass. However I can promise you this, think I’m nothing, think what I have said is bullshit but when it’s gametime and you have the unpleasant task of facing me in the ring. When any one of you is there and you stare across the ring and make eye contact with me. All you thought you knew and understood will be gone, your eyes will dart around trying to focus on something else, for when you look into my eyes you will see the conviction of my words from this. You will see that your fate has been sealed and each and every one of you has nobody to blame for that but yourselves. Nobody told you to act as you have thus far, it was simply your lack of passion and your ignorance of the reality around you that will contribute to your fall. For when you step into the ring with me, you step in the ring with something that is unforgettable. Something that no amount of time training or thinking you’re the best will ever prepare you for.

All it takes from me is one split second decision after I out think you, which clearly won’t be hard to do, given most of your brilliant game plans so far of sitting back hoping because you think your so great, that you can pull a Monday morning quarterback. Well that isn’t going to work, because you see the big time players like myself always want the ball when the lights are on bright when everyone is watching, when the game as it were is on the line... I demand that ball ... which is why you’ll never see me pulling an “I’m too cool for this” like all of you have. Who are just being typical young stars, Who haven’t proven a god damn thing to anyone but demand to be handed everything. Instead I’m different I do what I do best and that is tell people exactly how it is, and come Sunday I will be backing it up in that ring and there isn’t a damn thing any of you can do about that... except shut up and like it… oh and get used to seeing me with the eWo Championship in my grasp.

Something tells me though that shortly after this gets airtime, most of you in this tournament who haven’t spoken will quickly send something into the offices to be aired, to act as if what I have said is not the case. However it won’t matter, and if you do send something in quickly thinking your smart – you play more into my hands. As I told you this tournament already belongs to me, that eWo title belongs to me. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I become the top man at the crowning. Yet each and everyone you, that hasn’t spoken yet or has and previously has been address be me, all of you have made a fatal mistake and nothing can change that. Now before you think to yourselves hmm ... he’s talking almost like the early bird gets the worm... I’ll tell you that’s not what I’m saying at all because, everyone already knows that at the same time, the second mouse gets the cheese. Confused, it doesn’t surprise me, but that just makes things easier for me, since none of you will be getting that cheese, or in our case the eWo World Title. The only thing all of you will get is the fate of that first mouse... the realization that your own actions contributed to not noticing the danger, and suffering because of it. At this point in case you haven’t figured it out the gold is the cheese in this little story... and I am the trap and in the end... just like the trap I’ll hold the prize. I will be the eWo champion, and all of you will be like the mouse that didn’t see the danger right in front of it, you will be left for dead after the lethal snap from the trap... no matter how you slice it you will all end up either falling to a vicious faceplant or having your star snuffed out. When the smoke settles and the final bell is rung most of you will only have bruised bodies and broken egos... I however will stand triumphant as the eWo Champion. Proving once and for all my future is so bright I have to wear shades.