OOC: This is posted for Devin, Bruce Richards' handler - having issues with the boards.
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We start off with a frozen image of an airport lobby, pixellated and silent. Then, a flash of disjointed images; the orientation shudders, people appear and disappear in the frame almost instantaneously, digitized sounds crackling through the speakers.
VOICE: I can-------eive-----afe----wrest------effec------amb-----
A face quickly shudders into view. A face that is sometimes flush with anger, sometimes twisted in a grin, this time, the face looks tired. As he talks, the images get a little clearer. It's still breaking up, just not as frequently.
VOICE: After spen----teen hours in----port, all I really-----is just sleep. But I've----mmitments, and I always----up to them.
And then the screen clears up. The picture quality sharpens, and the movements become fluid. And the face and voice clear up as well. And we see that the person talking into the camera is Bruce Richards, one of EPW's newest faces.
BRUCE RICHARDS: I don't know how well this is going to go over, to be honest. Like I said: unexpected layover, spotty internet access in the airport, and the EPW website seems to be exhibiting "technical difficulties". And I'm recording my first promo using the webcam in my laptop.
He sighs and rolls his eyes.
BRUCE RICHARDS: Not the way I really wanted to start my EPW debut. But I have to make some kind of statement. And it's not the medium that matters. It's the message.
A wry smile.
BRUCE RICHARDS: Right? In professional wrestling, it's all about CONTENT and not FLASH. Yeah, that's what I thought.
He sighs, the smile fading a little.
BRUCE RICHARDS: So yes. I'm Bruce Richards. You may or may not remember me from the NAPW, the little federation that could up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, or from some inter-federation events. I'm not the kind of guy who rests on his past laurels, or who rubs his past achievements in everyone's face - at least, not any more. I just want you all to know where I'm coming from.
Bruce straightens up.
BRUCE RICHARDS: And for those people who are shouting, "Why should we care about this guy?" I've got news for you: I don't really care if you care. I wrestle because I love doing it, and if you love wrestling, then I promise that for every EPW event that I'm involved in, you won't regret buying your ticket. Because I'm here to stretch my legs and play in a new park. I'm here to fight, and I'm here to win.
He takes a sip of coffee from his paper cup.
BRUCE RICHARDS: And from the looks of things, the guy I'm matched up against this show is EXACTLY the kind of guy I look forward to fighting. Sean Edmunds, a veteran of this sport for over half his life. He's had the kind of career I wish I could have, for almost twenty years. And he loves to fight.
Bruce smiles.
BRUCE RICHARDS: If I was the cocky new guy, I would say that I don't care about the old man's record, because there's new blood in the EPW and I'm going to crush him like a paper cup full of Maalox. If I was the respectful new guy, I would build him up even more, talking about how much I respect him, and then make up some kind of twist where I say "and that's exactly why I'm going to beat him" or something. But I'm not. I know that Sean Edmunds doesn't care what I have to say at all. So I'm not going to waste my breath talking about his record.
He sits up, leaning towards the webcam.
BRUCE RICHARDS: Now Edmunds has a reputation for being a cocky son-of-a *****, someone you can't trust as far as you can throw him. Well, aside from the fact that he looks like I could throw him a good ten feet or so, I know not to trust him. I know that in this business, there aren't many people you can trust. My buddy Dan Ryan, the guy who made it possible for me to make it to the EPW, I like him, and I respect him. But I don't trust him, not completely. Because in this business, if you want something, you have to do everything you can to get it, and you can't let anyone stand in your way. I took a long time to realize that. But it's true: if you want something, you can't let anyone stand in your way. Trust is a luxury that most people in this business can't afford. So I won't make the mistake of trusting Edmunds. Just like, if he's smart, he shouldn't trust me. In ANY way.
Bruce cracks his neck and looks up, probably at the departure schedule.
BRUCE RICHARDS: But like I said, I came here to fight, and I came to win. Sean Edmunds will give me a hell of a match, and it's always fun going up against an old-school mat worker, figuring out ways to kick holes in his strategy, playing it fast and loose. And I plan on making an impact, both in the EPW and on Edmunds' face.
Bruce grimaces at the pun.
BRUCE RICHARDS: And whether or not I win or lose - and if you were a betting man, I'd put money on me - after this show, the EPW will know exactly why I'm here. And what I'm capable of.
He grins, a shark-like grin that shows almost all of his teeth.
BRUCE RICHARDS: Trust me.
He reaches out to push a button and then...black.