act five: prepare to be educated
It's funny, the way the world works. I've always been called something of a Golden Boy in the NLCW, known as the go-to guy for ratings, the one person you can count on to sell out the arena. Not even Perculator was ever able to say something like that... granted, he always came close, but... guy was eternally a step behind.
Yet in the span of just a few simple months... I lose everything and have to reevaluate how I'm going to live the rest of my life. I have a lot of regrets, I definitely regret everything I've done to all-but ruin my family and the friendships I've always cherished, but... all that's left for me now is to leave the best legacy behind that I can. The kind-of legacy that stands out as one that helped build back an empire.
The NLCW is my dying kingdom, and I'm forced to watch it crumble under the reign of my best friend. How am I supposed to feel about that? What's a dying king to do but try and save the child he loves? It isn't so much about the gold that Pericolo wears around his waist, but rather what it represents... and I'm sorry, but as great a guy as Pericolo is?
He just isn't me.
He just... he... ugh, how to put it? Pericolo's kind, I try to be ruthless. Pericolo's the kind-of guy who gets back up when he's knocked down, but... I'm the kind-of guy who doesn't get knocked down in the first place. Even my own mortality was nothing more than a speed bump in the road, and although it changed the kind-of person I am... I'm still the same Chris Champion I've always been in the ring.
It... not meaning to make a pun here, but it kills me, this whole situation. If it weren't for this lethal injection... maybe I could fully enjoy my return as I'd want to. Being retired wasn't nearly as enjoyable as those television ads let on, there's so much free time with nothing to do and all you want is to go back to what's familiar.
Even if the most familiar thing to you is a bottle of Jack and a little extra strength behind your fist. I... I learned that the hard way.
And I know, I... I know, it's not healthy, these things I've done to myself, but when have I ever considered that? I'm Christopher Champion, I'm the king of the NLCW, the undisputed overlord of that ring. Even when I had my family, I never showed mercy to my opponents, and I paid no regard to what they might do to me. I didn't care, in the end... because I knew I was always going home the winner.
Didn't matter who I was facing, they could do what they wanted to me, I was still going to win. Same story, never changes... this Sunday's just like any other day for me.
I'm dying... but I'm still fighting, see? I've drank myself into near-comas, I've gone through matches no normal person could ever hope to survive... and I've gone through more hell in these past few months than anyone here could ever begin to imagine, but I'm still fighting.
I'm still standing at the top of the mountain.
Even if I've lost everything... I can make up for that, I can repent for that... I just have to save the place I love the most right now. We're both dying, but... at least one of us can live, and I'm going to see to that.
I have to do what no-one else could ever hope to-- not even Dominic Pericolo.
I have to save the NLCW.