RUSSIAN ROULETTE: Sean Edmunds vs. Bruce "The Beast" Richards
- Thread starter DBrunkGXW
- Start date
OOC: This is posted for Devin, Bruce Richards' handler - having issues with the boards.
---
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.
---
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.
OOC: Again posted for Devin
---
(Fade up in a hotel suite; it's not a luxury hotel by any stretch of the imagination, but it's got a few luxuries. Like a desk, and air conditioning, and carpets that look like they've been cleaned recently. Bruce Richards is sitting with his back to the desk, his laptop behind him and and sipping from a glass. From the bottles behind him it's likely Jameson's and Coke, but who knows. It might just be Coke. He leans back in his chair and breathes out a sigh of relief.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: Well. I finally made it. And I have to tell you that sitting in an airport for ten hours is definitely a way to make you re-examine your life. Sitting on those uncomfortable chairs, your muscles cramped, trying to grab even a half hour's sleep while still trying to remain alert enough to hear the updated boarding announcements. Far away from your comfortable, familiar bed and your comfortable, familiar life. You start thinking, "Is this really all worth it?" And the answer?
(Bruce smiles broadly.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: HELL yes it is.
(He rubs his hands together with glee.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: Because sure, this business is sometimes about fun. I can't tell you the number of times I've been cutting a promo with somebody and I was laughing so hard I stopped breathing. But if that's the only motivation you have, then there's going to be that part of your life when things start getting you down. When getting up and training every day is a struggle, when you're coming up on more losses than wins, and when even the thought of getting ready for your next match is almost unbearable. If you're in it for the fun of it, you start thinking "Why the hell am I even doing this?"
(Bruce scratches his jaw.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: I've thought about it a time or two before. And I'm sure Sean Edmunds has thought about that at least once. In fact, I would bet that all the great ones have had that thought at one point in their career. (He smirks.) A lot of the mediocre ones, too.
(Bruce's smile fades a little.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: But the ones that stick around? They stick around because they love the competition. They love the sport. They love to FIGHT. It doesn't matter how banged up or bruised you are, when you get in that ring, it's one of the greatest things that's ever happened to you. And you get to have that feeling over, and over, and over again. EVERY time you hear the bell to start the match, your blood starts running, and you think, "Yes. This is it. This is what I've been waiting for."
(Bruce's face hardens. Still smiling, but there's an edge to it now.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: I love fighting. More than that, I love to give a beating to someone who deserves it. Some punk who starts mouthing off, doesn't know **** about ****, doesn't respect anyone or anything? When I'm done with them, I make them respect something. Some opportunist who takes the easy way out, time after time, and steals more wins than they deserve? I take that match from them and show them there's something you can't just steal. And some hypocrite, who says one thing and does the other, who obtusely fires away with the same old cliches and then does the exact opposite? Yeah. Those guys, I take some special pride in dissecting.
(He takes a moment to reflect, remembering some of his favourite matches of the past, or perhaps looking forward to the future.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: Out of any of those three categories, Edmunds seems to fall squarely in category #2. He's a good fighter, sure, but he'd rather cheat his way to victory than earn it properly. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that he's getting up there, afraid of his own mortality, destroying his image, and takes the easy way out. Maybe he's just a giant asshole. Either way: doesn't matter to me. Because I am going to make him fight me. And I don't care what kind of tactics he tries to use, or how many other members of Anthology he pulls into the match in an attempt to win it FOR him. I'm going to make sure that he actually has to fight hard for something once again. Because my first EPW win? I want to make an impact. It's the night that Big Dog and my buddy Dan Ryan team up to fight your teammates, in a match that's got to be one of the most anticipated in EPW history. It's a night that all of the EPW titles are defended. And I need to work hard to rise above that. For people to go away remembering the first time Bruce "The Beast" Richards fought in the EPW and won.
(Bruce looks intensely at the camera and takes a deep breath.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: My first time here, in Russian Roulette, I want it to be a match for the history books. I know you have the potential inside you, Edmunds. Please don't disappoint me.
(Bruce picks up his glass again and takes a sip as the camera fades to black.)
---
(Fade up in a hotel suite; it's not a luxury hotel by any stretch of the imagination, but it's got a few luxuries. Like a desk, and air conditioning, and carpets that look like they've been cleaned recently. Bruce Richards is sitting with his back to the desk, his laptop behind him and and sipping from a glass. From the bottles behind him it's likely Jameson's and Coke, but who knows. It might just be Coke. He leans back in his chair and breathes out a sigh of relief.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: Well. I finally made it. And I have to tell you that sitting in an airport for ten hours is definitely a way to make you re-examine your life. Sitting on those uncomfortable chairs, your muscles cramped, trying to grab even a half hour's sleep while still trying to remain alert enough to hear the updated boarding announcements. Far away from your comfortable, familiar bed and your comfortable, familiar life. You start thinking, "Is this really all worth it?" And the answer?
(Bruce smiles broadly.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: HELL yes it is.
(He rubs his hands together with glee.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: Because sure, this business is sometimes about fun. I can't tell you the number of times I've been cutting a promo with somebody and I was laughing so hard I stopped breathing. But if that's the only motivation you have, then there's going to be that part of your life when things start getting you down. When getting up and training every day is a struggle, when you're coming up on more losses than wins, and when even the thought of getting ready for your next match is almost unbearable. If you're in it for the fun of it, you start thinking "Why the hell am I even doing this?"
(Bruce scratches his jaw.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: I've thought about it a time or two before. And I'm sure Sean Edmunds has thought about that at least once. In fact, I would bet that all the great ones have had that thought at one point in their career. (He smirks.) A lot of the mediocre ones, too.
(Bruce's smile fades a little.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: But the ones that stick around? They stick around because they love the competition. They love the sport. They love to FIGHT. It doesn't matter how banged up or bruised you are, when you get in that ring, it's one of the greatest things that's ever happened to you. And you get to have that feeling over, and over, and over again. EVERY time you hear the bell to start the match, your blood starts running, and you think, "Yes. This is it. This is what I've been waiting for."
(Bruce's face hardens. Still smiling, but there's an edge to it now.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: I love fighting. More than that, I love to give a beating to someone who deserves it. Some punk who starts mouthing off, doesn't know **** about ****, doesn't respect anyone or anything? When I'm done with them, I make them respect something. Some opportunist who takes the easy way out, time after time, and steals more wins than they deserve? I take that match from them and show them there's something you can't just steal. And some hypocrite, who says one thing and does the other, who obtusely fires away with the same old cliches and then does the exact opposite? Yeah. Those guys, I take some special pride in dissecting.
(He takes a moment to reflect, remembering some of his favourite matches of the past, or perhaps looking forward to the future.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: Out of any of those three categories, Edmunds seems to fall squarely in category #2. He's a good fighter, sure, but he'd rather cheat his way to victory than earn it properly. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that he's getting up there, afraid of his own mortality, destroying his image, and takes the easy way out. Maybe he's just a giant asshole. Either way: doesn't matter to me. Because I am going to make him fight me. And I don't care what kind of tactics he tries to use, or how many other members of Anthology he pulls into the match in an attempt to win it FOR him. I'm going to make sure that he actually has to fight hard for something once again. Because my first EPW win? I want to make an impact. It's the night that Big Dog and my buddy Dan Ryan team up to fight your teammates, in a match that's got to be one of the most anticipated in EPW history. It's a night that all of the EPW titles are defended. And I need to work hard to rise above that. For people to go away remembering the first time Bruce "The Beast" Richards fought in the EPW and won.
(Bruce looks intensely at the camera and takes a deep breath.)
BRUCE RICHARDS: My first time here, in Russian Roulette, I want it to be a match for the history books. I know you have the potential inside you, Edmunds. Please don't disappoint me.
(Bruce picks up his glass again and takes a sip as the camera fades to black.)