act six: the recipe for success
Wrestlers are like chefs.
... such a strange thing to start with, isn't it? But think about it, think about the years it takes to perfect the craft and how, in the end, the two occupations center solely around serving a mass amount of people. We live to serve for the rest of our careers, and we enjoy every moment of it because it's what we've trained ourselves to do. In the end, a chef takes pride in every dish he makes in the kitchen much like a wrestler takes pride in every move he makes in the ring.
Now, granted, there are other (probably moreso) comparible occupations to wrestling to be certain. However, for the point I'm going to make here today, let's focus on chefs. Now, I'm going to stretch this metaphor out a little, but stay with me here: chefs? They wear uniforms in that kitchen, just as wrestlers were outfits in the ring. Okay, comparison is moving along well... what next? Well, chefs have all these utensils at-hand to help them get the job done on the dish they create. I suppose there we can draw a line to the weapons we wrestlers use in our matches from time-to-time (specifically, our hardcore ones).
Yeah, we can continue this for awhile. The point that I'm trying to make, however, is that chefs and wrestlers both strive for one particular goal: finding the recipe for their success.
Okay, okay, I know. Everyone looks for that. Still, recipes, chefs... it makes sense. At least where I'm leading it to, anyway.
Listen, it's taken an entire life of dreaming and doing so that I can stand where I am today. This wasn't an accident, it wasn't luck... it was determination, perserverance, prayers, vitamins, whole milk and exercise... this was the whole shebang. Hulk Hogan would be fucking proud to see what I did with myself, let alone see that I did it without using steroids along the way. Hogan would-- oh, I'm sorry, I was making a point before.
Well, actually, I can include Hogan in on this point. Again, bare with me here... does anyone remember that failed attempt at marketing he did all those ages back called "Pastamania"? I'm sure a fair few of you remember, it's all over the internet. Hogan in a Hogan-theme chef's hat looking crazy over a thing of spaghetti. Look, what I'm trying to say is, although the thing bombed, Hogan clearly had the right idea in his direction. Chefs and wrestlers, like two peas in a pod.
pictured: a wrestling legend. no, seriously.
Anyway, enough about Hogan, let's talk about me. We're... what, two weeks removed now since Sultan of the Squared Circle. I want to catch everyone up on what I've been doing since then. Granted, I've been catching people up on my life's story for the past several weeks now... but it's nice to break trend every now and then. Consider this an "intermission", a little breather while I get ready for the real storytelling to begin again.
So, right, post-Sultan life for Dominic. Well, for a few days after Sultan I sat around at home healing up, mostly because Carmine and Stacy kicked my ass and made me work to get the win at the end of the night. Once the week was halfway through, I checked up with the fine folks at NLCW to try and figure out what was next in-store for me... only to find out they gave me the week off. Not a bad deal, they figured I needed more time to rest and I'd be well-prepared to defend my Hardcore Title the next week.
I figured, hey, why not stop in for Avulsion and give the fans a fine hello? I've not made nearly enough appearances for the NLCW at Avulsion as of late, it's always either me being the one handling on-the-road appearances or they're giving me time off to spend with the family. Being a free-agent is great and everything, but sometimes you wish you could do more for the folks cheering you on, you know? So I book a flight, I got all my stuff together for a two-night stay where we're filming Avulsion... and I make it to the airport just in time to find out my flight's been cancelled.
No problem, right? I booked in advance, they should be able to set me up with something. I'm fairly calm about the whole thing, just trying to keep to myself while people around me unleash hell on the poor guy working behind the counter and trying to handle all of their complaints about the cancelled flight. When it was finally my turn, I was amazed the guy was even able to still keep going... he even flinched when he said all flights I could have boarded for that day and the next to make up for the flight had been filled by the people who'd been in line ahead of me.
Okay, now that's fine too. I told the man this, I let him be because he'd already been through enough from everyone else. So, I try to get in touch with NLCW, let them know I'm going to miss that Avulsion. When I finally get through and explain what happened, I have Midvalley on the line fussing at me for even booking a flight in the first place since they'd wanted me to relax for the rest of the week. They'd planned an event for me the next week to meet with fans and build excitement for Fallout, but other than that event they didn't plan for me until Avulsion.
So, I rest. I rest and I go to the meet and greet and I enjoy my time with my family, friends, and on that particular day, my fans. Honestly? I couldn't be happier, the whole past two weeks have been relaxing as hell and I've thoroughly enjoyed myself.
So what's all this got to do with chefs?
Well... listen, okay, I'm going to admit it. I've not been training. Not these past two weeks. These past two weeks have been a vacation for me, practically, and when I found out I was facing Ryan Coleman I just sort-of... I mean, I already studied the guy in case I had to face him at Sultan, it's not like those two weeks erased what I'd learned about him. And since I'd waited all those months just to get back into the ring, it wasn't like two weeks of relaxation were going to kill me, right?
So... yeah. It's Sunday. Avulsion's going to be going on air several hours from now. Rather than be in the gym, rather than be watching tapes, rather than psyching myself up... I'm cooking. I am cooking because I am hungry, I am cooking because my wife is hungry, and I am cooking because for some reason, Chris tagged along and he's hungry too. I'm cooking, and I'm starting to realize that a chef and a wrestler are so very, very alike.
pictured: sweet fuck if i know.
So, I mean... listen, Ryan, I respect you man. I do. It's just... look, I'm confident in my abilities, in what I can do and in the fact that despite my lack of preparation I'm probably going to defeat you anyway just because I have more drive right now to move forward than I've had in a very long time. Hell, I mean, this lack of preparation is hardly a lack anyway, I mean like I said, it's not like I've forgotten what I studied up on you.
So, two weeks out from Sultan and I'm facing the guy who lost to the guy I beat in the finals. I'm facing the one guy out of the final four that I wasn't able to have the honor of facing in the first place. I'm facing you, Ryan Coleman.
And I'm making a couple of chicken sandwiches. Specifically, they're called "Hot Buffalo Chicken, Bacon and Cheese Sandwiches", but you get the idea. Hell, here's the recipe:
* 6 slices bacon
* 1/2 cup mayonnaise
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 2 tablespoons hot buffalo wing sauce
* 1 loaf Italian bread, cut in half lengthwise
* 3 cups shredded meat from a rotisserie chicken
* 8 slices pepperjack cheese
* 1/4 cup roasted red bell peppers, drained and sliced (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet; cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate.
3. Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Spread both halves of the bread with the mayonnaise mixture. Place chicken on bottom half of bread; layer bacon and cheese on top of chicken. Fold the top half of the bread over the bottom, and wrap with foil.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Add a layer of red pepper slices on top of the bacon and cheese, if desired. Cut into slices, and serve.
There, Ryan. Now you too can make yourself a hot buffalo chicken, bacon, and cheese sandwich before our hardcore match tonight on Avulsion. I'm sure it'll be downright delicious.
See you tonight, kiddo.