I could not save the NLCW.
When I look back on the original point of my return to the NLCW, I see a clear-cut purpose underlying the entire thing: I wanted to save the NLCW from going out of business. I hoped to take control of the direction of the company once again by becoming its champion, and I did everything I absolutely could in order to achieve that end, but... what happened shortly after?
My dying best friend tried to steal the reigns from me, and the second time around I simply couldn't handle the pressure. Ultimately, I'd failed the company I swore to protect. I didn't draw enough people in on my own to make up the loss of profits in-general that we were suffering because of the many financial blows the company had already taken along the way, and as a champion... I couldn't motivate the roster to move forward, either.
I put another notch on my proverbial bedpost as a champion, but ultimately... what was it for in the first place? I wanted to save this company, not be its final champion... and here I am, faced with the opportunity to be its final champion, but ultimately be unable to rescue it from its own demise.
I... I failed, Rick. You knew I would, too... you saw the truth behind everything long before it ever hit me. Corporate was just using me to turn what little profits they could because of the fact that I was a loyal member of the place, and when they realized that I wasn't doing the trick they resorted to doing all they could to get the title on a dying man. Controversy breeds ratings, ratings breed more money, and... hell, maybe they could have saved this place in the end.
But it didn't work. Their plan failed just as my own did as well, and I was, in the end, left in the dust of the destruction of the NLCW. Despite all my prayer, despite all my hoping and every ounce of the typical blood, sweat and tears one pours into a place they love... I, nor anyone else, was able to save the place we all love so dearly.
But Rick, you... you knew this was happening. You saw better things, you realized the importance of other things besides this company of ours and, in the end, you simply used the time you had left to settle unfinished business and wipe your hands of the NLCW. You did the intelligent thing, Rick... and you watched people like me eat straight from the hands of NLCW's Board of Directors.
You watched us all get played like fools, and you never lifted a finger because you knew we'd never believe you. You... you suffered because of it, Rick, because you saw all of us filled with a hope that would simply get us nowhere. You knew that from experience, didn't you Rick? Hope... hope leads to despair in the end, simple as.
You hate the NLCW for everything it's done to you and others like you... and you hate the love I have for it because you know, just as I now do, that it's nothing more than a blind love based on nothing but fairytale alone. And let's face the facts, Rick... when you take away my love for the NLCW, what do you have left to fight? An unmotivated Dominic Pericolo never threatened anyone... the sole reason I've ever done as well as I have with this career of mine was due to the fact that I was motivated.
You killed my motivation, Rick... you showed me the truth, and because of that, you've already won. Avulsion, it... it's just a formality in the end. You were ready to make the final impact on the NLCW's demise, and by defeating me... you're going to succeed in the end.
I should have listened to you all those years ago, Rick... I'm sorry I did not.