I don't know how, and I don't know why. I don't know what it was that somehow made me manage to lose to Sean Galen, to turn the tides on me seemingly out of nowhere...but I did, and I'm glad.
Because now I'm one step closer to my dreams then I ever thought I would be. My loss to Galen's brought forth something inside of me I've not felt since the HWF...a sense of unsurity. I honestly don't know anymore who I can and cannot beat, just like in the HWF, because in the NLCW anything can happen. I made that statement loud and clear in my debut match when I BEAT Galen, and he just did the same right back to me.
Such sudden revelations always bring about some sort of a change in a person, no?
Nevertheless, I've began to see that the NLCW really hasn't seen my best. They've not seen what I was like in the HWF, and they sure as hell haven't seen me put forth everything into my matches. I always thought I was, always thought I was going out there and giving it my all for those fans...but if that was the case, I would have beaten Galen. No...I've been slacking, and I've been slacking because I thought I realized that the challenge in the NLCW wasn't as great as in the HWF.
Maybe I was wrong after all.
Even so...it's time that the NLCW really starts seeing who I am. My name is Dominic Pericolo. I'm on a mission to accomplish my dreams, and I'll be damned if a simple stone in the road is going to stop my journey. All Galen's victory was to me was just that--a stone in the road. Of course, he earned the victory...he really did beat me fair and square. However, I wasn't giving it my all, and therein lied my tragic downfall.
Right now I really am just another face in the NLCW--sure, the fans recognize my name and they cheer for me every single time they see me, but that just isn't enough. I could easily drop off the program next week and no-one would care. If Chris Champion were to suddenly vanish, people would go ballistic. I need to realize that, unlike in the HWF, Chris and I aren't on the same status level any longer. He's an established legend in the NLCW, and hell, Sean Galen even is--though to a lesser extent.
Before I start thinking the challenge isn't there, I need to establish myself as a true contender. I need to put the past behind me--and not just my career in the HWF either. My whole relationship with Crystal needs to be left behind as well. I've let that love I had for Crystal keep me from giving all of my love to Suki...and while I'll never let myself forget Crystal, I have to leet her go. It's taken so many years...so many damn years to finally get the strength to do this, but it has to be done.
If I can do this, then who knows what I'll be capable of? I could be the next Chris Champion of the NLCW.
Or...I could be the next Texas Tim.
It all starts this week though...at least as far as wrestling is concerned. At Avulsion, I'll show the world that I'm ready to give them what I'm able to give, show them everything that I'm capable of doing. In a way, this is like my debut match all over again...just with switched opponents.
Frank Merritt.
This man has proven himself in the NLCW as a threat time and time again, there's no denying that. I can say without a doubt that, after watching how much he's improved over time--and this is only going by tapes, no less--that he has my respect. However, no ammount of respect will make me hold back in the ring--if anything, it makes me work harder.
Because to earn my respect, to truly impress me, is to make yourself an actual threat. If I take Frank Merritt lightly this week then he'll easily beat me, there's no doubt about that.
I need to win this week...to show the world that change is beginning. My loss to Galen last week was a mistake, it wasn't supposed to happen...but I allowed it to. I won't allow it again.
Galen's had his week...and at Avulsion, I'm getting my answer.
Now, as far as change outside of the ring...well, that's a different story. A story to be told another time, I guess.
Either way...the future's looking much brighter now, and I can say without hesitation that my time in NLCW is about to get a whole hell of a lot better.