UNLEASHED: Troy vs. Melton vs. Brown vs. Beast vs. Stevens vs. Hiroshi - World Title
- Thread starter DBrunkGXW
- Start date
DizzaHizza
Official Unofficial FW Party Pimp
* The contract was delivered to Kin Hiroshi in a manilla envelope. "Must be important: it can't be folded," Hiroshi thought to himself as he opened it up. The EPW Administration letterhead scorched Hiroshi's eyes, but he forced himself to read the full document.
"Okay...Cameron's playing a joke on me," Kin thought as he put the farce on the hotel room table, "But Cam did a nice job on that letterhead. ALMOST looks official." But Hiroshi couldn't tear himself away from it, especially after a brief phone call from THE BOSS to see if he'd signed it yet.
Hiroshi bounded across the room and nearly broke the table reaching out for the contract again. He reread the contract, and startled the camera crew (who had let themselves into the room) with a bellowing roar...well...bellowing for an Asian. *
KIN HIROSHI: "This is the f**king s**t I'm talking about, right here!"
* Bum rushing the cameras, contract waving in front of him the tirade continues... *
KIN HIROSHI: "I got it guys! I got it! My championship shot. Sure, it's not one-on-one with Lindsay, but I got it none the less. I mean, look at this!
"Joey Melton? Who's that?
"Beast? Pushover.
"Karl Brown? Not like he's been on a roll, lately.
"Sean Stevens? Puh-lease!
"Lindsay Troy? Of course I'd have to face her to win the title.
"F**k man, we got the best of the best in this match! Every single person walking into this match is equal. Each one of them has the same chance of losing to me as the next guy.
"Joseph, I'm truly sorry for what happened to the Cameron Cruise Project, but can you honestly blame ME, of all people. I did what I had to do to protect the interests of this company. When one name gets TOO big, it's gotta be put down. 'Tonight at Key Arena: The Cameron Cruise Project and EPW' just doesn't make as much money as 'Tonight at Key Arena: EPW'. Hell, it doesn't even make as much money as 'Tonight at Key Arena: Supersonics vs. , well, Anyone', and that's not saying much.
"You might be a living legend, Joey, but, even at your age, I was able to out move you: in AND out of the ring. Sure, I'm not the showstopper that you are. Hell, I know plenty women, from grandmas to grade school girls, that stare in awe of you. I know the guys in back shower you with respect, and look up to you. But, Joey, you're nothing without a wing-man.
"The days of you pulling out a victory solo are over. Stick to what you've been dominating the past two years: the tag-team division. After all, you can still be a world champion there too.
"Beast? Okay, so I'm probably going to catch flack from you, or Karl, or Sean about being called "The Muffin Man". Fact of the matter is, find something new. Yes, that's what people call me. No, it doesn't make me any weaker than being called...'Beast'.
"I made it here, didn't I? Moniker and all? Kin Hiroshi's name IS on the contract for this match, right? So don't go spouting to me how weak I am. I have more pull than you think. Like I said, I finished the Cameron Cruise Project, AND I made it into this match.
"Don't get me wrong, I know how big my britches are, and there's always a need for a belt to help hold them up. I mean, when you're built like me, you drag on the floor.
"Lindsay knows what that's about. Yes! I did it, I made a "You're-A-Dude" joke. Big f**kin' deal. It'll happen every single match you have from here on. There will be jokes about you being a man, or having cock holes in your underwear, or the nice tits you have. One of these things is true.
"The others? Well, I can't speak about you being man or having nice tits.
"Joey COULD answer the questions for me, but he's a little mad at me at this point in time.
"Lady and gentlemen, Kin Hiroshi is here.
"I'm not moving either."
** FADE TO BLACK **
"Okay...Cameron's playing a joke on me," Kin thought as he put the farce on the hotel room table, "But Cam did a nice job on that letterhead. ALMOST looks official." But Hiroshi couldn't tear himself away from it, especially after a brief phone call from THE BOSS to see if he'd signed it yet.
Hiroshi bounded across the room and nearly broke the table reaching out for the contract again. He reread the contract, and startled the camera crew (who had let themselves into the room) with a bellowing roar...well...bellowing for an Asian. *
KIN HIROSHI: "This is the f**king s**t I'm talking about, right here!"
* Bum rushing the cameras, contract waving in front of him the tirade continues... *
KIN HIROSHI: "I got it guys! I got it! My championship shot. Sure, it's not one-on-one with Lindsay, but I got it none the less. I mean, look at this!
"Joey Melton? Who's that?
"Beast? Pushover.
"Karl Brown? Not like he's been on a roll, lately.
"Sean Stevens? Puh-lease!
"Lindsay Troy? Of course I'd have to face her to win the title.
"F**k man, we got the best of the best in this match! Every single person walking into this match is equal. Each one of them has the same chance of losing to me as the next guy.
"Joseph, I'm truly sorry for what happened to the Cameron Cruise Project, but can you honestly blame ME, of all people. I did what I had to do to protect the interests of this company. When one name gets TOO big, it's gotta be put down. 'Tonight at Key Arena: The Cameron Cruise Project and EPW' just doesn't make as much money as 'Tonight at Key Arena: EPW'. Hell, it doesn't even make as much money as 'Tonight at Key Arena: Supersonics vs. , well, Anyone', and that's not saying much.
"You might be a living legend, Joey, but, even at your age, I was able to out move you: in AND out of the ring. Sure, I'm not the showstopper that you are. Hell, I know plenty women, from grandmas to grade school girls, that stare in awe of you. I know the guys in back shower you with respect, and look up to you. But, Joey, you're nothing without a wing-man.
"The days of you pulling out a victory solo are over. Stick to what you've been dominating the past two years: the tag-team division. After all, you can still be a world champion there too.
"Beast? Okay, so I'm probably going to catch flack from you, or Karl, or Sean about being called "The Muffin Man". Fact of the matter is, find something new. Yes, that's what people call me. No, it doesn't make me any weaker than being called...'Beast'.
"I made it here, didn't I? Moniker and all? Kin Hiroshi's name IS on the contract for this match, right? So don't go spouting to me how weak I am. I have more pull than you think. Like I said, I finished the Cameron Cruise Project, AND I made it into this match.
"Don't get me wrong, I know how big my britches are, and there's always a need for a belt to help hold them up. I mean, when you're built like me, you drag on the floor.
"Lindsay knows what that's about. Yes! I did it, I made a "You're-A-Dude" joke. Big f**kin' deal. It'll happen every single match you have from here on. There will be jokes about you being a man, or having cock holes in your underwear, or the nice tits you have. One of these things is true.
"The others? Well, I can't speak about you being man or having nice tits.
"Joey COULD answer the questions for me, but he's a little mad at me at this point in time.
"Lady and gentlemen, Kin Hiroshi is here.
"I'm not moving either."
** FADE TO BLACK **
QueenOfTheRing
AKA Mom
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,625
- Points
- 36
What is, what was, and what is yet to be...
Sprinkles of rain made erratic lines across the tinted window of the moving limousine, rolling across the pane and disappearing onto the rubber buffer between glass and door. The car cut through mid-afternoon Chicago traffic, having departed O'Haire airport a half-hour prior and running into multiple delays along the way. The car jerked to an abrupt halt, the driver honking his horn at a cab that had cut across four lanes of congestion to stop in front of a street vendor with a pot belly and greasy apron.
"Sorry, Miss."
From her seat, Lindsay Troy had braced herself against the door and dug her heels into the upholstery on the floor as to not go flying forward. As the limo began moving smoothly once more, she relaxed. "It's alright. Can't deny a cabbie his cholesterol intake."
Gliding around a corner, Troy returned to her laptop and headphones where Hiroshi's orgasm of championship contender glee filled her ears and played out before her eyes. Once the video wrapped, she regarded it with a "Hmmm" and a furrowed brow. The limo slowed to a crawl, then to a complete stop in front of The Drake Hotel.
Which boasted a growing cluster of reporters and bystanders in front of its doors. The crowd took notice of the car and pressed closer to the limo's back door.
"We're here, Miss."
**********
Fade-in: Lindsay Troy, having fended off the mob and promising to answer all their questions at the upcoming press conference she had agreed to hold, sitting with her legs crossed and arms resting on top of an easy chair's cushions in her Gold Coast Suite in the Drake. The waves coming off Lake Michigan crested and dissipated through the large picture window in the background. She adjusts her posture and then begins.
"And so it approaches, the eve of my toughest title defense to date. Five men hoping for a scrap of the glory that has been mine for almost fourteen months will walk into Chicago, my honorary Queendom for a time, only to be denied that which I am not ready to relinquish."
"I'm not just talking about the Empire Pro World Heavyweight title here. The greatest accessory to my wardrobe it may be, but it's what the belt symbolizes that I'm not ready to give up yet."
"The opportunity...and the right...to be recognized as the ambassador for this company."
"I'm not about to spread the wealth around, because there is so much more I want to do with my time as champion. There's been no 'settling in' time, no chance to get comfortable. Not when there's been so many curveballs thrown my way. From the Dises to Windham's unveiling, from the last match with Cross to this match at Unleashed, there hasn't been a single moment since my reign started that I could say that I felt comfortable."
"Although I'm sure Sean thought that by offering me a seat on his lap he would be doing me a favor by helping me be more at ease."
A chuckle.
"Not quite."
"You see, Trip, I know the game you're playing. I'm not sure where exactly it came from or what prompted you to try and get me to be a part of it but, like most things in your life up until last Aggression, you've failed."
"And you will fail again."
"You've failed because you lost sight of what's important. You wanted my belt, but then you wanted me and you can't have both."
"Men can never have both."
"Do you get the gist of my point now...."
Pause
"...Joey?"
"I don't believe you're really prepared for what's going to happen when you and I get in the ring as opponents."
"I say this as a matter of truth, because I'm not about to go soft on you just because of what we mean to each other."
"You should know, if you don't already, that the press is having a field day with this, and pay-per-view preparations are just starting."
"In the end, for you and I, it should be more than just who's the better half. It should be who's the better athlete, performer and wrestler. You're just going to need to work a hell of a lot harder to prove that it's you and not me."
"Kin, (she shakes her head) I know that your goofy, frat boy routine got you a title shot in New Frontier, but I'm failing to understand how you doing f*ck-all in this company warrants you being in this match."
"You broke up the Project...like that was hard to do. If you needed a definition of an old married couple, you needn't look any further than Melton and Cruise...the way they were."
"Oh, and lest we forget that the last time you pulled this routine on me not only was I not amused but I humiliated you in front of millions of your countrymen and women."
"So what have we learned, Kin? We've learned that when you piss me off with your comedy act and dumber-than-sh*t attitude I drive your head through the cement floor and I walk out the winner."
"You're this match's Spaghetti Contestant; thrown up against the wall just to see if you'll stick. Just to see how long you'll survive in the ring against your peers who are your betters."
"You're not cooked enough, Kin, and when you get thrown into the boiling pot at the pay-per-view, you're going to know it."
"Because I'm going to show you. And after I've cut the dead weight from this match I'm going to give you a lesson on picking your spots and being patient."
"Something that Marcus, yet again, refuses to learn."
She offers the camera a smirk.
"How long have we been doing this, Marcus? Two years?"
"Two years of me continuously getting the better of you and taking from you what you would so easily offer."
"Your dignity. Your pride. Your gold."
"Yet, you would risk your Empire Pro career over one match. You would risk your livelihood because of your gold fever and your petty revenge."
"You always were quick to blow your load instead of waiting for the peak opportunity."
"This isn't even what you want. You want me one on one, but you're so desperate that you'll take whatever you can get. And this weakness, like all the others in every encounter you and I have had since 2004, will be your undoing."
"I'm sure Jessica will be happy to have you back home for the long haul and I'll be more than happy to send you there."
"And now, that leads me to Karl."
"It's been long presupposed that the next encounter between Karl and I would not only top our Natural Selection tournament appearance but would also top our non-title encounter."
"I don't plan on disappointing."
"But Karl, what I do plan on doing is something that no one's been able to do for quite some time."
"I'm going to disrupt your center...throw you off balance."
"Can't be nice all the time."
"I was successful once and, while I didn't win the whole Natural Selection tournament, I did knock you out of it."
"Perhaps it's time to make the magic happen once more."
Fade...
Sprinkles of rain made erratic lines across the tinted window of the moving limousine, rolling across the pane and disappearing onto the rubber buffer between glass and door. The car cut through mid-afternoon Chicago traffic, having departed O'Haire airport a half-hour prior and running into multiple delays along the way. The car jerked to an abrupt halt, the driver honking his horn at a cab that had cut across four lanes of congestion to stop in front of a street vendor with a pot belly and greasy apron.
"Sorry, Miss."
From her seat, Lindsay Troy had braced herself against the door and dug her heels into the upholstery on the floor as to not go flying forward. As the limo began moving smoothly once more, she relaxed. "It's alright. Can't deny a cabbie his cholesterol intake."
Gliding around a corner, Troy returned to her laptop and headphones where Hiroshi's orgasm of championship contender glee filled her ears and played out before her eyes. Once the video wrapped, she regarded it with a "Hmmm" and a furrowed brow. The limo slowed to a crawl, then to a complete stop in front of The Drake Hotel.
Which boasted a growing cluster of reporters and bystanders in front of its doors. The crowd took notice of the car and pressed closer to the limo's back door.
"We're here, Miss."
**********
Fade-in: Lindsay Troy, having fended off the mob and promising to answer all their questions at the upcoming press conference she had agreed to hold, sitting with her legs crossed and arms resting on top of an easy chair's cushions in her Gold Coast Suite in the Drake. The waves coming off Lake Michigan crested and dissipated through the large picture window in the background. She adjusts her posture and then begins.
"And so it approaches, the eve of my toughest title defense to date. Five men hoping for a scrap of the glory that has been mine for almost fourteen months will walk into Chicago, my honorary Queendom for a time, only to be denied that which I am not ready to relinquish."
"I'm not just talking about the Empire Pro World Heavyweight title here. The greatest accessory to my wardrobe it may be, but it's what the belt symbolizes that I'm not ready to give up yet."
"The opportunity...and the right...to be recognized as the ambassador for this company."
"I'm not about to spread the wealth around, because there is so much more I want to do with my time as champion. There's been no 'settling in' time, no chance to get comfortable. Not when there's been so many curveballs thrown my way. From the Dises to Windham's unveiling, from the last match with Cross to this match at Unleashed, there hasn't been a single moment since my reign started that I could say that I felt comfortable."
"Although I'm sure Sean thought that by offering me a seat on his lap he would be doing me a favor by helping me be more at ease."
A chuckle.
"Not quite."
"You see, Trip, I know the game you're playing. I'm not sure where exactly it came from or what prompted you to try and get me to be a part of it but, like most things in your life up until last Aggression, you've failed."
"And you will fail again."
"You've failed because you lost sight of what's important. You wanted my belt, but then you wanted me and you can't have both."
"Men can never have both."
"Do you get the gist of my point now...."
Pause
"...Joey?"
"I don't believe you're really prepared for what's going to happen when you and I get in the ring as opponents."
"I say this as a matter of truth, because I'm not about to go soft on you just because of what we mean to each other."
"You should know, if you don't already, that the press is having a field day with this, and pay-per-view preparations are just starting."
"In the end, for you and I, it should be more than just who's the better half. It should be who's the better athlete, performer and wrestler. You're just going to need to work a hell of a lot harder to prove that it's you and not me."
"Kin, (she shakes her head) I know that your goofy, frat boy routine got you a title shot in New Frontier, but I'm failing to understand how you doing f*ck-all in this company warrants you being in this match."
"You broke up the Project...like that was hard to do. If you needed a definition of an old married couple, you needn't look any further than Melton and Cruise...the way they were."
"Oh, and lest we forget that the last time you pulled this routine on me not only was I not amused but I humiliated you in front of millions of your countrymen and women."
"So what have we learned, Kin? We've learned that when you piss me off with your comedy act and dumber-than-sh*t attitude I drive your head through the cement floor and I walk out the winner."
"You're this match's Spaghetti Contestant; thrown up against the wall just to see if you'll stick. Just to see how long you'll survive in the ring against your peers who are your betters."
"You're not cooked enough, Kin, and when you get thrown into the boiling pot at the pay-per-view, you're going to know it."
"Because I'm going to show you. And after I've cut the dead weight from this match I'm going to give you a lesson on picking your spots and being patient."
"Something that Marcus, yet again, refuses to learn."
She offers the camera a smirk.
"How long have we been doing this, Marcus? Two years?"
"Two years of me continuously getting the better of you and taking from you what you would so easily offer."
"Your dignity. Your pride. Your gold."
"Yet, you would risk your Empire Pro career over one match. You would risk your livelihood because of your gold fever and your petty revenge."
"You always were quick to blow your load instead of waiting for the peak opportunity."
"This isn't even what you want. You want me one on one, but you're so desperate that you'll take whatever you can get. And this weakness, like all the others in every encounter you and I have had since 2004, will be your undoing."
"I'm sure Jessica will be happy to have you back home for the long haul and I'll be more than happy to send you there."
"And now, that leads me to Karl."
"It's been long presupposed that the next encounter between Karl and I would not only top our Natural Selection tournament appearance but would also top our non-title encounter."
"I don't plan on disappointing."
"But Karl, what I do plan on doing is something that no one's been able to do for quite some time."
"I'm going to disrupt your center...throw you off balance."
"Can't be nice all the time."
"I was successful once and, while I didn't win the whole Natural Selection tournament, I did knock you out of it."
"Perhaps it's time to make the magic happen once more."
Fade...
jayshort
Long Live THE KING
State of the Union...
"You see, Trip, I know the game you're playing. I'm not sure where exactly it came from or what prompted you to try and get me to be a part of it but, like most things in your life up until last Aggression, you've failed."
"And you will fail again."
"You've failed because you lost sight of what's important. You wanted my belt, but then you wanted me and you can't have both."
"Men can never have both."
----
The words that rang from Lindsay Troy's mouth echoed over and over and over, until the click of the audio device used to play it shut it off.
fade-in:
"Triple X" Sean Stevens stood at a podium, dressed head to toe in the finest of apparel ... a navy blue linen shirt, unbuttoned, showcasing his chiseled physique, and the twenty-four carat gold chain that rested on his chest. His matching linen slacks were creased to perfection, and as he stood there, looking like nothing short of a million bucks, the expression on his face screamed, I know I look good. He stepped up to the microphone, and cleared his throat, looking out at the audience, filled with paparazzi, and journalists.
stevens - "After reviewing a couple of the comments tossed in my direction by the EPW World Heavyweight Champion, I have one question...
"...are we wrestling, or studying for the SAT?"
Some of the audience laughed, others didn't. Stevens didn't care one way or the other.
"I watched your promo a couple of times, and to be honest, it kinda reminded me of an SAT prep course. You know ... there's about sixty people in the class, one professor, and while the professor could be saying something that could greatly change that kid's life, his robotic presentation causes the kid to nod off."
He cleared his throat once more. "A failure? How in the hell can you honestly, with a straight face, label ME a failure? Kin Hiroshi doesn't know jack sh#t about me, and give that man credit for not even trying to pretend ... but, you, Lindsay? Did you see how many people I beat to get in this position? Add to the fact that I'm gonna beat you, and the other four contestants in this match, and you could easily make the case that I've beaten the entire roster in two matches. And, I'm a failure? How about you go and check my resume, Troy. No wait, why don't you go and ask your good friend," he winked, "just how much I measure up in all walks of life. You might just change your mind about my little proposal.
"I have a question. Do you possibly think that you've seen all that there is to see from me, Lindz? If so ... then, maybe I shouldn't want to f#ck you as bad as I do."
He paused, thought it over.
"On second thought, I take that back.
"Lindsay, my book has infinite chapters ... you, and the rest of the chumps on this roster are wrestlers because it's all you've got. You didn't fit in, couldn't sit at the cool kids' table, so you let your aggression out through other avenues, mainly ... this. Me? Sh#t, I'm not a wrestler, or at the very least, I'm not nearly as much of a wrestler as I was destined to be rich, drive nice cars, stay in luxury suites, eat at the finest restaurants, and be given expensive gifts, and beating *****es up was the easiest hustle...
"...and, when I say *****, no subliminals, the pun was definitely intended.
"Let me let you in on a little secret, Lindz. All this respect, admiration, love that you're receiving from your peers? Newsflash, it's not because you're good because, honestly, you're average at best. Look around ... this is a male dominated sport ... ninety-five percent of every promotion's roster is testosterone. They don't respect your skill level, they want to get in your pants. They're just trying to open that door by weakening your defenses a little. ...it worked for Joey, right?"
Smirking, he continued, admist the "ooooohs" from his last comment.
"Me? I'm honest. I got right to the point ... I told you after Aggression what I was all about, no tricks, no games. I think you're on the same level talent-wise as the worst wrestler I've ever wrestled, but easy on the eyes. So I said as much, and yet somehow, society makes me the bad guy. ME. I'm your friend, Lindsay and more of a man than that p#$$y Joey Melton ever was. In fact, your entire social circle is a bunch of p#$$ies. Hornet's the 'Greatest American P#$$y', Shane Southern's country p#$$y, Eli Flair is old p#$$y, and the Deacon is religious p#$$y. ...and, the fact that you are the man in your relationship speaks volumes. Not so much about you being masculine, more along the lines of Joey being feminine.
"Let me fill you in on something very important. You think you have what it takes? ...I'm telling you, you don't. You don't even come close. In fact, if you don't smarten up and become one of my b#tches, I'm calling it right here, right now ... this will be one of the easiest world title victories of my career.
"And, when you're on your back, looking up at the lights, wondering how everything ended so abruptly ... don't blame me. Blame your circle, because those are the people who fooled you into believing you were somebody you're obviously not. That you were somebody that had the skill to match perhaps the greatest superstar of this generation ... the "blue-eyed badass" himself.
"But, then again ... if I'm not mistaken, you did say that I had a choice between having you or the title. I'd gladly refrain from beating the hell out of you for a night in my hotel room. Think it over, get back to me on that one, beautiful."
He shuffled through some paperwork, before looking up, once more to address the camera.
"As for you, Hiroshi? Personally, I could care less if you choked on a muffin and died. All I know is if your response to me is 'Puh-leese' , you're in for the rudest of rude awakenings. I've seen you wrestle, I know what you're capable of in the ring ... and, I also know that with the right tutelage, a vigorous training regimen, and about four years of you just busting your ass to be the best possible wrestler you could be ... you still wouldn't be ready for my sister.
"You better wake up and realize just who in the hell I am. I'm not some warm up for a Troy/Hiroshi finale ... I'm the f#cking finale. I'm the 'Greatest Wrestler on the Planet' and that's without trying. Watch that battle royal again ... hell, ask your friends about me. You will be saying please a lot in this match, but it won't be because you ran into a pushover. It'll be because you'll be begging me to please stop.
"But, that's enough for now ... we've got a long week ahead of us. I'll see all of you very soon. Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your time."
Triple X gathered his paperwork, and filed out to the left to a small, business-like applause.
fade-to-black
"You see, Trip, I know the game you're playing. I'm not sure where exactly it came from or what prompted you to try and get me to be a part of it but, like most things in your life up until last Aggression, you've failed."
"And you will fail again."
"You've failed because you lost sight of what's important. You wanted my belt, but then you wanted me and you can't have both."
"Men can never have both."
----
The words that rang from Lindsay Troy's mouth echoed over and over and over, until the click of the audio device used to play it shut it off.
fade-in:
"Triple X" Sean Stevens stood at a podium, dressed head to toe in the finest of apparel ... a navy blue linen shirt, unbuttoned, showcasing his chiseled physique, and the twenty-four carat gold chain that rested on his chest. His matching linen slacks were creased to perfection, and as he stood there, looking like nothing short of a million bucks, the expression on his face screamed, I know I look good. He stepped up to the microphone, and cleared his throat, looking out at the audience, filled with paparazzi, and journalists.
stevens - "After reviewing a couple of the comments tossed in my direction by the EPW World Heavyweight Champion, I have one question...
"...are we wrestling, or studying for the SAT?"
Some of the audience laughed, others didn't. Stevens didn't care one way or the other.
"I watched your promo a couple of times, and to be honest, it kinda reminded me of an SAT prep course. You know ... there's about sixty people in the class, one professor, and while the professor could be saying something that could greatly change that kid's life, his robotic presentation causes the kid to nod off."
He cleared his throat once more. "A failure? How in the hell can you honestly, with a straight face, label ME a failure? Kin Hiroshi doesn't know jack sh#t about me, and give that man credit for not even trying to pretend ... but, you, Lindsay? Did you see how many people I beat to get in this position? Add to the fact that I'm gonna beat you, and the other four contestants in this match, and you could easily make the case that I've beaten the entire roster in two matches. And, I'm a failure? How about you go and check my resume, Troy. No wait, why don't you go and ask your good friend," he winked, "just how much I measure up in all walks of life. You might just change your mind about my little proposal.
"I have a question. Do you possibly think that you've seen all that there is to see from me, Lindz? If so ... then, maybe I shouldn't want to f#ck you as bad as I do."
He paused, thought it over.
"On second thought, I take that back.
"Lindsay, my book has infinite chapters ... you, and the rest of the chumps on this roster are wrestlers because it's all you've got. You didn't fit in, couldn't sit at the cool kids' table, so you let your aggression out through other avenues, mainly ... this. Me? Sh#t, I'm not a wrestler, or at the very least, I'm not nearly as much of a wrestler as I was destined to be rich, drive nice cars, stay in luxury suites, eat at the finest restaurants, and be given expensive gifts, and beating *****es up was the easiest hustle...
"...and, when I say *****, no subliminals, the pun was definitely intended.
"Let me let you in on a little secret, Lindz. All this respect, admiration, love that you're receiving from your peers? Newsflash, it's not because you're good because, honestly, you're average at best. Look around ... this is a male dominated sport ... ninety-five percent of every promotion's roster is testosterone. They don't respect your skill level, they want to get in your pants. They're just trying to open that door by weakening your defenses a little. ...it worked for Joey, right?"
Smirking, he continued, admist the "ooooohs" from his last comment.
"Me? I'm honest. I got right to the point ... I told you after Aggression what I was all about, no tricks, no games. I think you're on the same level talent-wise as the worst wrestler I've ever wrestled, but easy on the eyes. So I said as much, and yet somehow, society makes me the bad guy. ME. I'm your friend, Lindsay and more of a man than that p#$$y Joey Melton ever was. In fact, your entire social circle is a bunch of p#$$ies. Hornet's the 'Greatest American P#$$y', Shane Southern's country p#$$y, Eli Flair is old p#$$y, and the Deacon is religious p#$$y. ...and, the fact that you are the man in your relationship speaks volumes. Not so much about you being masculine, more along the lines of Joey being feminine.
"Let me fill you in on something very important. You think you have what it takes? ...I'm telling you, you don't. You don't even come close. In fact, if you don't smarten up and become one of my b#tches, I'm calling it right here, right now ... this will be one of the easiest world title victories of my career.
"And, when you're on your back, looking up at the lights, wondering how everything ended so abruptly ... don't blame me. Blame your circle, because those are the people who fooled you into believing you were somebody you're obviously not. That you were somebody that had the skill to match perhaps the greatest superstar of this generation ... the "blue-eyed badass" himself.
"But, then again ... if I'm not mistaken, you did say that I had a choice between having you or the title. I'd gladly refrain from beating the hell out of you for a night in my hotel room. Think it over, get back to me on that one, beautiful."
He shuffled through some paperwork, before looking up, once more to address the camera.
"As for you, Hiroshi? Personally, I could care less if you choked on a muffin and died. All I know is if your response to me is 'Puh-leese' , you're in for the rudest of rude awakenings. I've seen you wrestle, I know what you're capable of in the ring ... and, I also know that with the right tutelage, a vigorous training regimen, and about four years of you just busting your ass to be the best possible wrestler you could be ... you still wouldn't be ready for my sister.
"You better wake up and realize just who in the hell I am. I'm not some warm up for a Troy/Hiroshi finale ... I'm the f#cking finale. I'm the 'Greatest Wrestler on the Planet' and that's without trying. Watch that battle royal again ... hell, ask your friends about me. You will be saying please a lot in this match, but it won't be because you ran into a pushover. It'll be because you'll be begging me to please stop.
"But, that's enough for now ... we've got a long week ahead of us. I'll see all of you very soon. Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your time."
Triple X gathered his paperwork, and filed out to the left to a small, business-like applause.
fade-to-black
Last edited:
DizzaHizza
Official Unofficial FW Party Pimp
* Hiroshi turned off his iPod Movie. He had seen what he wanted to see of Sean Stevens and Lindsay Troy. As he tucked the toy into his backpack, he realized that Jason Lee wasn’t going to be the only Underdog cast this year.
Did it make a difference to Hiroshi? Sure. His pride was hurt just enough to care, but the warm sunny day blew all his worries away. Nothing to break his stride to the EPW World Title. A few cracks, crevices, and steps might fall into his path, but no one was going to stop him now.
As Hiroshi turned the corner to the local Gold’s Gym, he saw the ever present and mysterious camera crew waiting for him.
With a quick cough and a quicker wave of the hand, Kin looked right into the camera. *
KIN HIROSHI: “Okay. I don’t really know which one of you to start with, so I’ll just shoot the fish you’ve put in my barrel.
“Triple X.
“First of all, let me turn off my Sarcasm Switch, because you don’t understand that, do you? I was giving you a compliment you f**king twit when I said ‘Puh-lease’. Jesus, does anyone finish grammar school these days?
* Hiroshi stares blankly into the camera, as if expecting an answer. Righting himself, he continues… *
“Though, you’re right, buddy, I don’t know a damn thing about you, and I’m glad that you realized that about me. Honestly, I don’t know a damn person who DOES know a thing about you, besides you being a whiny, snot-nosed, little brat who’s Armani shirt MUST be cutting off the blood flow to his brain because he’s obviously not realizing who The Muffin Man is.
“Let me give you a quick refresher course:
“I don’t choke on my own muffins. That’s Dan Ryan five years ago, and you if you’re not careful. Of course, I’m going to DESTROY you, and then you’ll be choking on the foot you’re putting in your own mouth.
“Where was I? Oh yeah: Dan Ryan. So I almost kill Danno, and what does he do? He signs me to an EPW contract. Why? Because I have that much pull in this industry. I’m consistent. I’m not a one-shot egomaniac who throws his money around anymore. I did that, and look where it got me: ‘Mid-Card Lifer’.
“Week in and week out I do what I’m paid to do: draw a crowd and put on a show. I’m damn good at it too. How damn good? So damn good that even though I didn’t win the Battle Royal for a title shot, which is why YOU, Sean, are here, I’m still in the damned match.
“Call me the ‘Ass of EPW’, because no matter what the burden placed on my back, no matter the conditions that I have to endure, I still come out as good as I went in; I still end up on top.
“Which reminds me…
* Chuckling, Hiroshi licks his lips, a la LL Cool J. *
“Lindsay…”
“Oh, my dear Lindsay, how you are mistaken. First of all, my antics MIGHT be considered by the unenlightened to be goofy and childish, but they are hardly antics to toss aside. Secondly, do you see my collar-popped or my hair spiked on end like I was cruising the Jersey Shore? I don’t think so.
“I’m the furthest thing from a ‘frat boy’ that you could possibly imagine. I mean, sure I f**ked a goat once, but it was only on the advice of your boyfriend, and I was drunk on Absinthe to boot.
* Kin shrugs his shoulders, and looks a bit guilty. *
“A college education isn’t something that really appeals to me anyways. I’d much rather gouge eyes, rake backs, and give arm ringers all day. Sure, I could drop you on your funky ass all day long, but why ruin such a nice thing.
“I admit, you’re more of a woman than Sean or I could get any day of the week, but, between us, you’re also twice the man too.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it all about you: the men always want you, you always beat them, you’re the champ BUT you’re a woman, and Joey Melton splits your trench like a backhoe.
“Personally, I have nothing against you or your lifestyle OUTSIDE of the ring
“Professionally, I have every right to be pissed off. You chose this profession, and more power to you. The U.S. Constitution says that you can do whatever you want to do, and be whatever you want to be. However, I think everyone would agree that ‘Lindsay Troy: Housewife’ has a much better ring to it than ‘Lindsay Troy: Champion’.
“You’ve got the womanly charm to be a GREAT waitress. You’ve got the style to be America’s Next Top Model. You’ve got the personality to be a FANTASTIC mom. But World Champion, you are no more.
“The days of your novelty act are over, Lindsay. This isn’t a new comment or a new concept. Gena Davis couldn’t cut it as a President for the same reason. No one wants to see a woman leading men.
“Sure, you got rave reviews for a few weeks, maybe months, but then what? There’s no staying power; there’s no hook. When the beat drops out of your swan song are you going to be able to go a cappella, and carry the tune?
* Once again, Hiroshi shrugs his shoulders. *
“You know, Joey hasn’t been the best wind beneath your wings. Why not let Sean in? I mean, if I were gay, which I’m not, I’d totally let him blow me.
“Hell, Lindsay, you might think I’m the “spaghetti factor” but I’d let YOU slap this noodle around whenever you want. Believe me, my spaghetti’s ‘starch water’ won’t only stick against the wall, but it’s also used as industrial adhesive in Guam, and currency in Madagascar.
* Kin giggles. He knows it’s not true, but he sure would like it to be. *
“Oh, and you want to bring up OUR past like it’s some end-all, be-all judgment for what happens when we get in the ring?
“Lindsay, you of all people should know that in this industry, when you face someone one week doesn’t mean that it’s going to go down the same way the next week. Isn’t it amazing that you want to bring New Frontier into this too? I mean, I might be damn near dead last in the race for the Ultratitle, but both you and I are sitting 3-3 with wins and losses. Yet, I’M the one with the NFW World Title shot?
“That’s because I’m better than you. You got to my head once before, and you got into my mind too.
“Not again.
“Your time is up, champ.
“Find some dishes to clean, some carpets to vacuum, and be ready for tea and crumpets at noon.”
“I know the look you have on your face, and before you accuse me of attempting to set ‘women’s lib’ back 50 years, look at what you’re doing, Lindsay.
“You’re making all these pretty little girls think that they can be more than a waitress, or an airplane hostess, or a secretary.
“It’s women like YOU and Karla Starr that make the little flower girls around the world think that they actually make a difference; that they matter.
“Sure, we need you to dump out a kid or two from time to time, but there’s enough sluts out there that if a few of you keep your clam-traps slapped shut, big deal!
“So, quit thinking you’re hot s**t because you held a title for ‘fourteen some odd months’. The only reason Dan Ryan ALLOWED you to hold it for that long is because he knew he could make money off you, Queeny, and NOT because you can out wrestle any of the chumps who wanted to be champs.
“You’ve wrestled me, and, sure, I’ll admit it, you beat me fair and square. Was it for a title? No. Was it Eee-Pee-Dub? No. Did I TRULY care about the 10 points that it cost me, when I could make it up elsewhere? No.
“Fact of the matter is, Ms. Troy, five months ago, I was a different wrestler, and a different man, than you’re going to have to face at Unleashed.
“And if any of the other goons and snot-nosed punks think that it’s not going to be Kin Hiroshi standing with the title strapped around his waist at the end of the night, well, they’re in for a baker’s dozen worth of kicks to the head.
“I’m not about to ‘hustle’ this match like everyone else seems to think they’re going to do.
“I’m, purely, going to walk in and take what’s mine.
“That’s the cold hard truth, and a Muffin of Wisdom…
“…best served warm.”
** Fade to Black **
Did it make a difference to Hiroshi? Sure. His pride was hurt just enough to care, but the warm sunny day blew all his worries away. Nothing to break his stride to the EPW World Title. A few cracks, crevices, and steps might fall into his path, but no one was going to stop him now.
As Hiroshi turned the corner to the local Gold’s Gym, he saw the ever present and mysterious camera crew waiting for him.
With a quick cough and a quicker wave of the hand, Kin looked right into the camera. *
KIN HIROSHI: “Okay. I don’t really know which one of you to start with, so I’ll just shoot the fish you’ve put in my barrel.
“Triple X.
“First of all, let me turn off my Sarcasm Switch, because you don’t understand that, do you? I was giving you a compliment you f**king twit when I said ‘Puh-lease’. Jesus, does anyone finish grammar school these days?
* Hiroshi stares blankly into the camera, as if expecting an answer. Righting himself, he continues… *
“Though, you’re right, buddy, I don’t know a damn thing about you, and I’m glad that you realized that about me. Honestly, I don’t know a damn person who DOES know a thing about you, besides you being a whiny, snot-nosed, little brat who’s Armani shirt MUST be cutting off the blood flow to his brain because he’s obviously not realizing who The Muffin Man is.
“Let me give you a quick refresher course:
“I don’t choke on my own muffins. That’s Dan Ryan five years ago, and you if you’re not careful. Of course, I’m going to DESTROY you, and then you’ll be choking on the foot you’re putting in your own mouth.
“Where was I? Oh yeah: Dan Ryan. So I almost kill Danno, and what does he do? He signs me to an EPW contract. Why? Because I have that much pull in this industry. I’m consistent. I’m not a one-shot egomaniac who throws his money around anymore. I did that, and look where it got me: ‘Mid-Card Lifer’.
“Week in and week out I do what I’m paid to do: draw a crowd and put on a show. I’m damn good at it too. How damn good? So damn good that even though I didn’t win the Battle Royal for a title shot, which is why YOU, Sean, are here, I’m still in the damned match.
“Call me the ‘Ass of EPW’, because no matter what the burden placed on my back, no matter the conditions that I have to endure, I still come out as good as I went in; I still end up on top.
“Which reminds me…
* Chuckling, Hiroshi licks his lips, a la LL Cool J. *
“Lindsay…”
“Oh, my dear Lindsay, how you are mistaken. First of all, my antics MIGHT be considered by the unenlightened to be goofy and childish, but they are hardly antics to toss aside. Secondly, do you see my collar-popped or my hair spiked on end like I was cruising the Jersey Shore? I don’t think so.
“I’m the furthest thing from a ‘frat boy’ that you could possibly imagine. I mean, sure I f**ked a goat once, but it was only on the advice of your boyfriend, and I was drunk on Absinthe to boot.
* Kin shrugs his shoulders, and looks a bit guilty. *
“A college education isn’t something that really appeals to me anyways. I’d much rather gouge eyes, rake backs, and give arm ringers all day. Sure, I could drop you on your funky ass all day long, but why ruin such a nice thing.
“I admit, you’re more of a woman than Sean or I could get any day of the week, but, between us, you’re also twice the man too.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it all about you: the men always want you, you always beat them, you’re the champ BUT you’re a woman, and Joey Melton splits your trench like a backhoe.
“Personally, I have nothing against you or your lifestyle OUTSIDE of the ring
“Professionally, I have every right to be pissed off. You chose this profession, and more power to you. The U.S. Constitution says that you can do whatever you want to do, and be whatever you want to be. However, I think everyone would agree that ‘Lindsay Troy: Housewife’ has a much better ring to it than ‘Lindsay Troy: Champion’.
“You’ve got the womanly charm to be a GREAT waitress. You’ve got the style to be America’s Next Top Model. You’ve got the personality to be a FANTASTIC mom. But World Champion, you are no more.
“The days of your novelty act are over, Lindsay. This isn’t a new comment or a new concept. Gena Davis couldn’t cut it as a President for the same reason. No one wants to see a woman leading men.
“Sure, you got rave reviews for a few weeks, maybe months, but then what? There’s no staying power; there’s no hook. When the beat drops out of your swan song are you going to be able to go a cappella, and carry the tune?
* Once again, Hiroshi shrugs his shoulders. *
“You know, Joey hasn’t been the best wind beneath your wings. Why not let Sean in? I mean, if I were gay, which I’m not, I’d totally let him blow me.
“Hell, Lindsay, you might think I’m the “spaghetti factor” but I’d let YOU slap this noodle around whenever you want. Believe me, my spaghetti’s ‘starch water’ won’t only stick against the wall, but it’s also used as industrial adhesive in Guam, and currency in Madagascar.
* Kin giggles. He knows it’s not true, but he sure would like it to be. *
“Oh, and you want to bring up OUR past like it’s some end-all, be-all judgment for what happens when we get in the ring?
“Lindsay, you of all people should know that in this industry, when you face someone one week doesn’t mean that it’s going to go down the same way the next week. Isn’t it amazing that you want to bring New Frontier into this too? I mean, I might be damn near dead last in the race for the Ultratitle, but both you and I are sitting 3-3 with wins and losses. Yet, I’M the one with the NFW World Title shot?
“That’s because I’m better than you. You got to my head once before, and you got into my mind too.
“Not again.
“Your time is up, champ.
“Find some dishes to clean, some carpets to vacuum, and be ready for tea and crumpets at noon.”
“I know the look you have on your face, and before you accuse me of attempting to set ‘women’s lib’ back 50 years, look at what you’re doing, Lindsay.
“You’re making all these pretty little girls think that they can be more than a waitress, or an airplane hostess, or a secretary.
“It’s women like YOU and Karla Starr that make the little flower girls around the world think that they actually make a difference; that they matter.
“Sure, we need you to dump out a kid or two from time to time, but there’s enough sluts out there that if a few of you keep your clam-traps slapped shut, big deal!
“So, quit thinking you’re hot s**t because you held a title for ‘fourteen some odd months’. The only reason Dan Ryan ALLOWED you to hold it for that long is because he knew he could make money off you, Queeny, and NOT because you can out wrestle any of the chumps who wanted to be champs.
“You’ve wrestled me, and, sure, I’ll admit it, you beat me fair and square. Was it for a title? No. Was it Eee-Pee-Dub? No. Did I TRULY care about the 10 points that it cost me, when I could make it up elsewhere? No.
“Fact of the matter is, Ms. Troy, five months ago, I was a different wrestler, and a different man, than you’re going to have to face at Unleashed.
“And if any of the other goons and snot-nosed punks think that it’s not going to be Kin Hiroshi standing with the title strapped around his waist at the end of the night, well, they’re in for a baker’s dozen worth of kicks to the head.
“I’m not about to ‘hustle’ this match like everyone else seems to think they’re going to do.
“I’m, purely, going to walk in and take what’s mine.
“That’s the cold hard truth, and a Muffin of Wisdom…
“…best served warm.”
** Fade to Black **
Steve
the EX-QUEEN of FW~!
(FADEIN: Joey Melton in front of an UNLEASHED backdrop.)
MELTON: If you stick around in this business you’ll see a little bit of everything. Triple cage matches, a midget hung on a live PPV, a woman as World Champion, and a man who once sold Muffins ****ing a goat for a Canadian dollar. Kin, you gave that poor animal the best two minutes of it’s life and I’ll forever love you for it.
So you took one for the team? You wedged yourself between Ivory and Ivory and just blew. If it wasn’t you, it would’ve been another hater filled with jealously. None of you in the locker room ever came to the table and settled with the coin Cameron and I brought to this company. I did this promotion a FAVOR by showing and lending marketing rights to my name. When Joey Melton walked through the door, you had a wilderbeast as World Champion, the type of man who legitimately would have killed you in the ring, Hiroshi. But now, DRAGON SLAIN and sent to the B-Show. Beast. Mr. EPW. The mother ****ing bore who ripped the heart out the entire locker room, then when your assess were too tired to make it back to your cars, subjected you all to a slide show of his Summer Vacation.
Look at the wall kids, there’s Beast buying a snow cone at Niagara Falls. There’s Beast fly-fishing in Guam. There’s Beast, with his ass hanging out of a car window driving down I-40 on his way to comparing his balls with the size of the Greatest Ball Of Twine. Have you all forgotten the DREGS I pulled you from? I ****ing sank the Canadian Molly Brown and sent her played ass to ONSLAUGHT. I mean, by winter Ivan will be wrestling Foxx in a best of 7 series, with the loser set to become Cameron’s Butler. You know, your old job Hiroshi.
So, show a little respect and the proper remorse about breaking up the Project. The fact is none of you sold, and we brought this company back in the black, burying your careers in the process, but with any success story, there are tragedies. Every play must have an understudy who knows the role inside out, but develops a Coke habit listening to the grandiose performance in the shadows. Every Derby winner fronts a jockey with an eating disorder to make weight. There’s been no serious consideration to you actually winning this Kin. Your plight here is to grab hold to the coattails spinning past your head, grab hold, and appreciate your first Main Event, well….ever?
I sent Beast off television essentially, destroyed his confidence and now you’ve got Lindsay to deal with. It’s all set up perfectly. If you can’t beat a woman to legitimize your career, who can you beat? Goats don’t wear tights and drop elbows off the top rope. That’s the surface view. I’d say, I’ve helped give this company a real World Champion. You’re in the match because anyone can sell with Lindsay as champion. She’d make a rock look good. Which, is why Ryan booked Sean, I’m guessing.
Stevens, we’re all pussies and you like to beat your *****es for not factoring in a sales tax. Right, anything else?
No. Then go back to sleep, you won’t be missed. Call Ivy and tell her you’re on your way back home with dinner and her dry cleaning. You’re a good boy, Sean. A very good boy.
The marquee may not read: “The Cameron Cruise Project and EPW” thanks to Kin’s hijinks, but Joey Melton’s name still comes first. You’ve lightened the load I’m carrying, Hiroshi. Nothing more. But, the more bodies I have to carry, the merrier.
Lindsay.
Business before pleasure, I don’t have to remind you. I didn’t actively put myself in this position. I’ve taken more pride than you’ll ever know from your run. And it’s not because you’re a woman. That seems to be the angle of choice here, but I couldn’t give a ****. I’ve seen how hard you worked, the hours put in. You’ve been one of the best wrestlers in the world over the last year, and I can’t see how it could’ve played out different if you had a dick swinging between your legs.
But, the opportunity is there.
You whipped my ass back in shape, Troy. You picked me off the cold, tile floor in Japan and ****ing led me to sobriety. I’m here, because of you. But, let’s not split hairs. I’m the biggest name in this company. And the next step in EPW’s evolution is to have a GOLDEN name carry it’s treasure.
Don’t mistake my enjoyment for being under you, for an unwillingness to walk out as World Champion. Chances are, the next time I walk through our living room in the middle of the night with the belt strapped on…you won’t be able to say, “Joey, put it back on my shelf.”
(FTB)
MELTON: If you stick around in this business you’ll see a little bit of everything. Triple cage matches, a midget hung on a live PPV, a woman as World Champion, and a man who once sold Muffins ****ing a goat for a Canadian dollar. Kin, you gave that poor animal the best two minutes of it’s life and I’ll forever love you for it.
So you took one for the team? You wedged yourself between Ivory and Ivory and just blew. If it wasn’t you, it would’ve been another hater filled with jealously. None of you in the locker room ever came to the table and settled with the coin Cameron and I brought to this company. I did this promotion a FAVOR by showing and lending marketing rights to my name. When Joey Melton walked through the door, you had a wilderbeast as World Champion, the type of man who legitimately would have killed you in the ring, Hiroshi. But now, DRAGON SLAIN and sent to the B-Show. Beast. Mr. EPW. The mother ****ing bore who ripped the heart out the entire locker room, then when your assess were too tired to make it back to your cars, subjected you all to a slide show of his Summer Vacation.
Look at the wall kids, there’s Beast buying a snow cone at Niagara Falls. There’s Beast fly-fishing in Guam. There’s Beast, with his ass hanging out of a car window driving down I-40 on his way to comparing his balls with the size of the Greatest Ball Of Twine. Have you all forgotten the DREGS I pulled you from? I ****ing sank the Canadian Molly Brown and sent her played ass to ONSLAUGHT. I mean, by winter Ivan will be wrestling Foxx in a best of 7 series, with the loser set to become Cameron’s Butler. You know, your old job Hiroshi.
So, show a little respect and the proper remorse about breaking up the Project. The fact is none of you sold, and we brought this company back in the black, burying your careers in the process, but with any success story, there are tragedies. Every play must have an understudy who knows the role inside out, but develops a Coke habit listening to the grandiose performance in the shadows. Every Derby winner fronts a jockey with an eating disorder to make weight. There’s been no serious consideration to you actually winning this Kin. Your plight here is to grab hold to the coattails spinning past your head, grab hold, and appreciate your first Main Event, well….ever?
I sent Beast off television essentially, destroyed his confidence and now you’ve got Lindsay to deal with. It’s all set up perfectly. If you can’t beat a woman to legitimize your career, who can you beat? Goats don’t wear tights and drop elbows off the top rope. That’s the surface view. I’d say, I’ve helped give this company a real World Champion. You’re in the match because anyone can sell with Lindsay as champion. She’d make a rock look good. Which, is why Ryan booked Sean, I’m guessing.
Stevens, we’re all pussies and you like to beat your *****es for not factoring in a sales tax. Right, anything else?
No. Then go back to sleep, you won’t be missed. Call Ivy and tell her you’re on your way back home with dinner and her dry cleaning. You’re a good boy, Sean. A very good boy.
The marquee may not read: “The Cameron Cruise Project and EPW” thanks to Kin’s hijinks, but Joey Melton’s name still comes first. You’ve lightened the load I’m carrying, Hiroshi. Nothing more. But, the more bodies I have to carry, the merrier.
Lindsay.
Business before pleasure, I don’t have to remind you. I didn’t actively put myself in this position. I’ve taken more pride than you’ll ever know from your run. And it’s not because you’re a woman. That seems to be the angle of choice here, but I couldn’t give a ****. I’ve seen how hard you worked, the hours put in. You’ve been one of the best wrestlers in the world over the last year, and I can’t see how it could’ve played out different if you had a dick swinging between your legs.
But, the opportunity is there.
You whipped my ass back in shape, Troy. You picked me off the cold, tile floor in Japan and ****ing led me to sobriety. I’m here, because of you. But, let’s not split hairs. I’m the biggest name in this company. And the next step in EPW’s evolution is to have a GOLDEN name carry it’s treasure.
Don’t mistake my enjoyment for being under you, for an unwillingness to walk out as World Champion. Chances are, the next time I walk through our living room in the middle of the night with the belt strapped on…you won’t be able to say, “Joey, put it back on my shelf.”
(FTB)
jayshort
Long Live THE KING
Re: UNLEASHED: Troy vs. Melton vs. Brown vs. Beast vs. Stevens vs. Hiroshi - World Title
fade-in:
Sean 'Triple X' Stevens stood in the center of an empty boxing ring, clad in a wife beater tank top, and gym shorts. His long golden hair, tied into a ponytail, drenched with sweat. Perched up against a turnbuckle, he stared into the main camera, before taking a couple of steps closer.
stevens - "The day that a wrestler's claim to fame is causing another man to choke on a muffin, or that he f#cked a goat, is the day this business really cried out for my help. Thank you, Kin ... you've officially set wrestling back ten years. I bet your mom is proud.
"But, in a world where every truth is clouded by a truckload of lies, I'll be honest with you ... I often wondered what your muffins were laced with in the first place, because there's really nothing about you that screams out normal. You still don't know me? Well, the fact that you and I competed in the same federation for a long period of time tells me all I need to know about you, Einstein. ...and, don't respond with some sh#tty ass excuse about me not doing anything of substance, because I was winning real titles, fighting real wars, against real wrestlers.
"And, oh yeah ... they were main events."
He snickered.
"I had my own dressing room, while the curtain jerkers' line usually began in the basement, so we probably never did get a proper introduction. Not that it'd do me any good in the first place.
"By your own admission you're mid-card for life, so I'm guessing maybe you went back to your suite at the 'Red Roof Inn', yelled at an employee or two, swearing to God that somebody else ordered those nasty movies you're too broke to pay for," he winked. "and, took a nap. Maybe it was too much like the right thing to do, for a talentless hack to stick around the backstage area and, oh, I don't know ... study a main event match, or two. Next time became next month, next month became next year, next year became an entire career with no interesting highlights. Maybe you're not a student of the game, maybe, in your family, pretty good to the outside world meant outstanding within...
"... or maybe you're just stupid."
Stevens slid out of the ring, walked over to a bench where a towel and a bottle of water was visible. After taking a couple of sips from the bottle, and wiping the sweat from his brow, he continued.
"If it's the former ... you'll probably get in there and break your neck. If it's the latter ... I'll probably break your neck. Regardless, it's a win-win situation. I'm the champ, you'll never wrestle again, and you won't remember enough of what happened to file an incriminating police report."
Trip smiled, thought his words through, then spoke once more.
"As for you, Joey Melton? I'm sure you thought mentioning Poison Ivy would strike a nerve, and it probably would've if I didn't dump the b#tch ... how many months has it been? ...six? ...seven?" He looked on as if he expected an answer. "But, maybe that's the problem, Joe. Maybe it's not meant for you to think. I mean, you thought you were still relevant to a sport that's clearly passed you by. I'm sure you think you have a chance at winning the EPW World title at Unleashed, don't ya?
"When you heard Lindsay working that vibrator like a mad woman after we ran into each other at Aggression ... I bet you thought she was thinking about you, huh superstar?
"Let me explain something to you, Melton. If I've done something to make you think Ivy McGinnis' opinion ever mattered when we were screwing, trust me, there was an ulterior motive. How many world titles did I get out of that relationship? ...two? ...three? A Presidential title here, a Tag title there ... six figure contracts spanning from Greensboro, to Travis-land. Ten titles in total, a fat wallet, trust me, it wasn't love ... it was an investment.
"But, you don't think that far ahead do you, Joe? Despite the sh#t you talk for the camera, you're content being, Mr. Troy. You live for those late night pillow talk sessions, and the fact that you've acknowledged that one of your household chores is to put her title in a safe place proves my p#ssy theory correct. Do I have anything else to say? Oh, I've got plenty ... and, when I walk into that arena at Unleashed, when that ring announcer says my name, and my music blares, when I take everything you've got and keep getting up, when I pin your shoulders to the mat, when I'm announced the EPW World Heavyweight Champion, when you're escorted to the back by a whole heap of medical personnel ... you might want to ask them to put your monitors on mute ... because, that's when I'll talk most."
Trip tossed his towel at the camera, it got caught on the lens, as the screen faded out.
fade-to-black
fade-in:
Sean 'Triple X' Stevens stood in the center of an empty boxing ring, clad in a wife beater tank top, and gym shorts. His long golden hair, tied into a ponytail, drenched with sweat. Perched up against a turnbuckle, he stared into the main camera, before taking a couple of steps closer.
stevens - "The day that a wrestler's claim to fame is causing another man to choke on a muffin, or that he f#cked a goat, is the day this business really cried out for my help. Thank you, Kin ... you've officially set wrestling back ten years. I bet your mom is proud.
"But, in a world where every truth is clouded by a truckload of lies, I'll be honest with you ... I often wondered what your muffins were laced with in the first place, because there's really nothing about you that screams out normal. You still don't know me? Well, the fact that you and I competed in the same federation for a long period of time tells me all I need to know about you, Einstein. ...and, don't respond with some sh#tty ass excuse about me not doing anything of substance, because I was winning real titles, fighting real wars, against real wrestlers.
"And, oh yeah ... they were main events."
He snickered.
"I had my own dressing room, while the curtain jerkers' line usually began in the basement, so we probably never did get a proper introduction. Not that it'd do me any good in the first place.
"By your own admission you're mid-card for life, so I'm guessing maybe you went back to your suite at the 'Red Roof Inn', yelled at an employee or two, swearing to God that somebody else ordered those nasty movies you're too broke to pay for," he winked. "and, took a nap. Maybe it was too much like the right thing to do, for a talentless hack to stick around the backstage area and, oh, I don't know ... study a main event match, or two. Next time became next month, next month became next year, next year became an entire career with no interesting highlights. Maybe you're not a student of the game, maybe, in your family, pretty good to the outside world meant outstanding within...
"... or maybe you're just stupid."
Stevens slid out of the ring, walked over to a bench where a towel and a bottle of water was visible. After taking a couple of sips from the bottle, and wiping the sweat from his brow, he continued.
"If it's the former ... you'll probably get in there and break your neck. If it's the latter ... I'll probably break your neck. Regardless, it's a win-win situation. I'm the champ, you'll never wrestle again, and you won't remember enough of what happened to file an incriminating police report."
Trip smiled, thought his words through, then spoke once more.
"As for you, Joey Melton? I'm sure you thought mentioning Poison Ivy would strike a nerve, and it probably would've if I didn't dump the b#tch ... how many months has it been? ...six? ...seven?" He looked on as if he expected an answer. "But, maybe that's the problem, Joe. Maybe it's not meant for you to think. I mean, you thought you were still relevant to a sport that's clearly passed you by. I'm sure you think you have a chance at winning the EPW World title at Unleashed, don't ya?
"When you heard Lindsay working that vibrator like a mad woman after we ran into each other at Aggression ... I bet you thought she was thinking about you, huh superstar?
"Let me explain something to you, Melton. If I've done something to make you think Ivy McGinnis' opinion ever mattered when we were screwing, trust me, there was an ulterior motive. How many world titles did I get out of that relationship? ...two? ...three? A Presidential title here, a Tag title there ... six figure contracts spanning from Greensboro, to Travis-land. Ten titles in total, a fat wallet, trust me, it wasn't love ... it was an investment.
"But, you don't think that far ahead do you, Joe? Despite the sh#t you talk for the camera, you're content being, Mr. Troy. You live for those late night pillow talk sessions, and the fact that you've acknowledged that one of your household chores is to put her title in a safe place proves my p#ssy theory correct. Do I have anything else to say? Oh, I've got plenty ... and, when I walk into that arena at Unleashed, when that ring announcer says my name, and my music blares, when I take everything you've got and keep getting up, when I pin your shoulders to the mat, when I'm announced the EPW World Heavyweight Champion, when you're escorted to the back by a whole heap of medical personnel ... you might want to ask them to put your monitors on mute ... because, that's when I'll talk most."
Trip tossed his towel at the camera, it got caught on the lens, as the screen faded out.
fade-to-black
Last edited:
DizzaHizza
Official Unofficial FW Party Pimp
* Kin Hiroshi looks up from the article about Lindsay Lohan in the latest issue of Tiger Beat Magazine to notice the EPW banner being draped behind him, and the video cameras being shoved in his face.
Hiroshi tosses the magazine aside, and smiles big for the camera. *
KIN HIROSHI: “Joey! Glad you could join the party, but next time let’s not get into the specifics about life outside of the arenas. It wasn’t so much that I was drunk, or horny, as it was the fact that that goat had it coming to her.
“Or was it a him?
“I’ll say it was a her.
“Does it make you gay if you have sex with a male of another species?
Hiroshi shrugs off the thought.
“Now, between Mr. Melton and Mr. Stevens there seems to be some discrepancies about what the greatest Hiroshi moment has been. Joey thinks that it was I breaking up the Project. Sean seems to think it was poisoning Dan Ryan all those years ago.
“You’re both wrong.
“There has not been ONE defining moment in my career, because ever single moment that I have been on camera has been a continuous course of highlights.
“Breaking up the Cameron Cruise Project? Highlight.
“Poisoning Dan Ryan? Highlight.
“Being mentored by Eddy Love? Highlight.
“The championships? The main-events? Both highlights.
“Being the biggest thing that Japan has dropped on the United States since Pearl Harbor? Highlight.
“You can’t define WHO I am, just as much as you can’t define WHAT I am. The Muffin Man is more than just your run of the mill wrestler who steps up to a microphone to put himself on a pedestal. He’s more than the guy who throws suplexes, DDTs, and powerbombs around like their Lindsay Troy’s panties.
“I’m a f**king enigma. Hell, I’m the question within the enigma. How does a man so well respected in the industry, with a solid work ethic and the golden voice remain at that turning point to World Champion for so long, and never…quite…get the chance?
“Anyone have the answer?
“It’s a mystery. I win matches, and I lose matches. Just like any other competitor in this business. I can out talk Muhammad Ali on any day of the week.
“We’re talking the BOXER, Muhammad Ali, not the mover and SHAKER, Muhammad Ali.
“The only option left is that I’m seen as a threat to any company because I’m a thinker. Kin Hiroshi is outside of the paradigm that has been set in place, for wrestlers, for the last hundred years. I’m building something SO much more than just a name for myself.
“I’m building a NEW paradigm that will change wrestling forever.
“Win or lose? Who cares? We all win, and we all lose. It’s what you do with your time between the trash talking, and the winning and losing that makes a wrestler. It’s what defines the Muffin Man.
“Not who I almost killed with a muffin. Not what I did to one of the greatest tag-teams of all time.
“See, those were the results of outward thinking.
“I’m no smarter than the next guy. I’m not college educated, and I don’t come from Nobel Prize winning genes.
“But I’m a hell of a lot more original than ANYONE that steps toe-to-toe with me. ‘Triple X’? Sure, run your mouth about how I don’t know you even though we wrestled in the same company for years. Did you ever stop and think for a second that the reason I don’t know you is because I didn’t care to know you?
“The NAME I recognize, the MAN I don’t. I had bigger fish to fry. I had men like Joey Melton, Eddy Love, Hornet, Dan Ryan, and Steve Radder providing me with opportunities to be truly great, without realizing what they were doing.
“I’ve ended a few friendships along the way. Damn, who knows when the next time Cameron will call me is? But better than the friendships that have been unstrung are the people taking notice of a new threat. Call them fans, call them enemies, or call them admirers: they are all captivated by something that they can’t explain.
“Just like you can’t explain why I’m in this match. Or can you?
“Sure, Joey, I’ll ride these coattails wherever they’ll take me. It’s easy to drive a dagger into someone’s back when you’re behind them, anyways. I’ve always been one to take what I can get, and if all I can get are the table scraps from the TRUE main-eventers, than so be it.
“Yeah, there I go again, Sean, feeding fuel to your fire that I’m a mid-carder. Well, I guess that speaks VOLUMES about you: having to step into a match with THE mid-carder.
“Stevens, you have NO clue what I’m capable of. You just assume that because I don’t have a World Title listed next to my name in the annals of our industry that I’m below you. You assume that because I beat people that you’ve already beaten, that I’m behind your time, and, thus, less than you.
“Face the facts, champ. I’m in this match, just like you, because I’m the same caliber of competitor as you, as Beast, as Melton, as Troy, as Brown, and management is finally calling me in from left field.
“But, like I said, while Lindsay looks down through that glass floor, and the rest of you try and find a way pass that glass ceiling, I’ve brought glass cutters.
“I’m not brilliant, but I am a f**king genius.
“Joey Melton tried to contain me, but he failed. The UNIFIER couldn’t even bring his little ‘ole partner back together with him. So Joey roped me into some f**kin publicity stunt that ended up worse than Lindsay’s title reign.
“You can’t stop what you can’t comprehend, so back off.
“What bothers you more to hear, Sean?
“Kin Hiroshi: EPW World Champion?
“Or, The Muffin Man defeats Triple X?
“Because after Unleashed, you better get ready to hear both, and to have me rub your nose in the poo-poo that you’re spreading all over the place.
“I’m no damn messiah, but I’m not some martyr either.
“I’m just about to do what no one has done before, and go where no one has gone before.
“I’m f**king Jean Luc Picard, *****es.”
Hiroshi tosses the magazine aside, and smiles big for the camera. *
KIN HIROSHI: “Joey! Glad you could join the party, but next time let’s not get into the specifics about life outside of the arenas. It wasn’t so much that I was drunk, or horny, as it was the fact that that goat had it coming to her.
“Or was it a him?
“I’ll say it was a her.
“Does it make you gay if you have sex with a male of another species?
Hiroshi shrugs off the thought.
“Now, between Mr. Melton and Mr. Stevens there seems to be some discrepancies about what the greatest Hiroshi moment has been. Joey thinks that it was I breaking up the Project. Sean seems to think it was poisoning Dan Ryan all those years ago.
“You’re both wrong.
“There has not been ONE defining moment in my career, because ever single moment that I have been on camera has been a continuous course of highlights.
“Breaking up the Cameron Cruise Project? Highlight.
“Poisoning Dan Ryan? Highlight.
“Being mentored by Eddy Love? Highlight.
“The championships? The main-events? Both highlights.
“Being the biggest thing that Japan has dropped on the United States since Pearl Harbor? Highlight.
“You can’t define WHO I am, just as much as you can’t define WHAT I am. The Muffin Man is more than just your run of the mill wrestler who steps up to a microphone to put himself on a pedestal. He’s more than the guy who throws suplexes, DDTs, and powerbombs around like their Lindsay Troy’s panties.
“I’m a f**king enigma. Hell, I’m the question within the enigma. How does a man so well respected in the industry, with a solid work ethic and the golden voice remain at that turning point to World Champion for so long, and never…quite…get the chance?
“Anyone have the answer?
“It’s a mystery. I win matches, and I lose matches. Just like any other competitor in this business. I can out talk Muhammad Ali on any day of the week.
“We’re talking the BOXER, Muhammad Ali, not the mover and SHAKER, Muhammad Ali.
“The only option left is that I’m seen as a threat to any company because I’m a thinker. Kin Hiroshi is outside of the paradigm that has been set in place, for wrestlers, for the last hundred years. I’m building something SO much more than just a name for myself.
“I’m building a NEW paradigm that will change wrestling forever.
“Win or lose? Who cares? We all win, and we all lose. It’s what you do with your time between the trash talking, and the winning and losing that makes a wrestler. It’s what defines the Muffin Man.
“Not who I almost killed with a muffin. Not what I did to one of the greatest tag-teams of all time.
“See, those were the results of outward thinking.
“I’m no smarter than the next guy. I’m not college educated, and I don’t come from Nobel Prize winning genes.
“But I’m a hell of a lot more original than ANYONE that steps toe-to-toe with me. ‘Triple X’? Sure, run your mouth about how I don’t know you even though we wrestled in the same company for years. Did you ever stop and think for a second that the reason I don’t know you is because I didn’t care to know you?
“The NAME I recognize, the MAN I don’t. I had bigger fish to fry. I had men like Joey Melton, Eddy Love, Hornet, Dan Ryan, and Steve Radder providing me with opportunities to be truly great, without realizing what they were doing.
“I’ve ended a few friendships along the way. Damn, who knows when the next time Cameron will call me is? But better than the friendships that have been unstrung are the people taking notice of a new threat. Call them fans, call them enemies, or call them admirers: they are all captivated by something that they can’t explain.
“Just like you can’t explain why I’m in this match. Or can you?
“Sure, Joey, I’ll ride these coattails wherever they’ll take me. It’s easy to drive a dagger into someone’s back when you’re behind them, anyways. I’ve always been one to take what I can get, and if all I can get are the table scraps from the TRUE main-eventers, than so be it.
“Yeah, there I go again, Sean, feeding fuel to your fire that I’m a mid-carder. Well, I guess that speaks VOLUMES about you: having to step into a match with THE mid-carder.
“Stevens, you have NO clue what I’m capable of. You just assume that because I don’t have a World Title listed next to my name in the annals of our industry that I’m below you. You assume that because I beat people that you’ve already beaten, that I’m behind your time, and, thus, less than you.
“Face the facts, champ. I’m in this match, just like you, because I’m the same caliber of competitor as you, as Beast, as Melton, as Troy, as Brown, and management is finally calling me in from left field.
“But, like I said, while Lindsay looks down through that glass floor, and the rest of you try and find a way pass that glass ceiling, I’ve brought glass cutters.
“I’m not brilliant, but I am a f**king genius.
“Joey Melton tried to contain me, but he failed. The UNIFIER couldn’t even bring his little ‘ole partner back together with him. So Joey roped me into some f**kin publicity stunt that ended up worse than Lindsay’s title reign.
“You can’t stop what you can’t comprehend, so back off.
“What bothers you more to hear, Sean?
“Kin Hiroshi: EPW World Champion?
“Or, The Muffin Man defeats Triple X?
“Because after Unleashed, you better get ready to hear both, and to have me rub your nose in the poo-poo that you’re spreading all over the place.
“I’m no damn messiah, but I’m not some martyr either.
“I’m just about to do what no one has done before, and go where no one has gone before.
“I’m f**king Jean Luc Picard, *****es.”
Steve
the EX-QUEEN of FW~!
Re: UNLEASHED: Troy vs. Melton vs. Brown vs. Beast vs. Stevens vs. Hiroshi - World Title
(FADEIN: Joey Melton in front of an UNLEASHED backdrop.)
MELTON: You know, Trip, sure I'd like to think I have a chance to win the EPW World Title. But, as you get older you learn these litttle dreams you've carried with you for years, slowly die and settle into something ordinary. Take me for example. One of the biggest names in this industry for the last fifteen years. Poster on men like Troy Windham's bedroom wall as a teenager. A true hero. Someone who can tell a woman he has seven inches and mean it. But, I'm ****ing wrestling in a Main Event with Kin Hiroshi, and a man Ivy left for a band.
Yeah you made an investment. I've heard the drunken voice mails left in the last six weeks. Benefit of Troy being friends with Ivy. You're Pat O'brien, Sean, more than a man ready for a World Title run. You wanna get high and do Ivy? Yeah?
If i wanted to hit a nerve I'd release the video of you sniffing Hornet's dirty underwear. I know another investment. You've made a lot of those, and hey, here you are. Wrestling Mr. and Mrs Troy, Kin Hiroshi, and the other twenty dwarfs for a title that 9 out of 10 wrestling fans don't even recongize. Can you get your money back Sean?
The fact is at this point in your career Ryan could've brought out the Abondimal Snowman and got the same reaction. Faint surprise, and "Honey, would you like another beer?" The apex of your caeer lasted two years Sean. Mine three decades. Two years vs. Two generations of Degrassi Highs. How many promotions have you left high and dry? How many times have you been found coked up, in a Tennesse ditch with a hooker stapled to your clit? Everything you've ever wanted to be in this business I created. You worshipped at the Church Of Joey Melton. You watched one night when you were a kid as I beat the **** out of someone on a Sunday afternoon, and inspired, you stole $250 from your step-mom's purse to join a wrestling gym and train under a peophille who needed the tax write-off. That's Sean Stevens. And yet you had the foresight to cut ties with the woman who stopped you from blowing up five minutes into a match. Good move, irritant. Let's be honest. Troy Windham got a gig on an adapation of a Spanish Soap Opera and bailed. What were you, tenth on the list of names Dan called?
So now it's Triple X, the blue-eyed bad ass who gets to hit the woman, show his dick, and tell her the good times are not where the meteroexuals are at. This is what your life has come down to. What your career has become. You were offered a role and you jumped at it.
You haven't changed a bit from that kid who walked into Greensboro and **** himself over getting to shake my hands and stand in the opposite corner. You waited a year until Merritt called you and said, "There's a role that needs to be filled. Be here by Wednesday."
You're not a trend setter. At least Hiroshi thinks he's Jean Luc Picard. Trip you're just along for the ride, wherever another person's hard work and talent takes you. When people see you now, what's the first thing they ask? "Where's Ivy?"
Don't ****ing make yourself out to be John Wayne when you can't even tie your own shoes in this business, kid.
I've done something that none of you will at least admit to. I've ****ed a World Champion. A woman. I know Hornet had offers from you and Ivy, Sean, but I'd like to think you never took him up on that. I've ****ed the EPW World Champion. If you can't beat them, let them beat you. One day, when you're old enough, you'll understand.
Whether I walk out with the belt, or it comes home with my baby, I couldn't care one way or the other. If I leave only with the ability to 'play' champion, well, we're all back on equal footing then, huh? At least with my roleplay there's a point of reference.
Hiroshi. We all started in the mid-card. Maybe this is your year. Maybe Kin Hirshoi is that rare athlete who can sell Muffins AND front a company. But, you'll find when you finally start making waves, there's always the under current to pull your ass back in. You broke up the Project, but in the process freed the monkey off my back. If you want relevancy, the World Title, if you want to pin me or Troy....you have to handle the monster you've created.
I should be THANKING you.
You freed me of Cruise and have me back in a MAIN EVENT.
If you cure cancer next, I'll really be impressed.
(FTB)
(FADEIN: Joey Melton in front of an UNLEASHED backdrop.)
MELTON: You know, Trip, sure I'd like to think I have a chance to win the EPW World Title. But, as you get older you learn these litttle dreams you've carried with you for years, slowly die and settle into something ordinary. Take me for example. One of the biggest names in this industry for the last fifteen years. Poster on men like Troy Windham's bedroom wall as a teenager. A true hero. Someone who can tell a woman he has seven inches and mean it. But, I'm ****ing wrestling in a Main Event with Kin Hiroshi, and a man Ivy left for a band.
Yeah you made an investment. I've heard the drunken voice mails left in the last six weeks. Benefit of Troy being friends with Ivy. You're Pat O'brien, Sean, more than a man ready for a World Title run. You wanna get high and do Ivy? Yeah?
If i wanted to hit a nerve I'd release the video of you sniffing Hornet's dirty underwear. I know another investment. You've made a lot of those, and hey, here you are. Wrestling Mr. and Mrs Troy, Kin Hiroshi, and the other twenty dwarfs for a title that 9 out of 10 wrestling fans don't even recongize. Can you get your money back Sean?
The fact is at this point in your career Ryan could've brought out the Abondimal Snowman and got the same reaction. Faint surprise, and "Honey, would you like another beer?" The apex of your caeer lasted two years Sean. Mine three decades. Two years vs. Two generations of Degrassi Highs. How many promotions have you left high and dry? How many times have you been found coked up, in a Tennesse ditch with a hooker stapled to your clit? Everything you've ever wanted to be in this business I created. You worshipped at the Church Of Joey Melton. You watched one night when you were a kid as I beat the **** out of someone on a Sunday afternoon, and inspired, you stole $250 from your step-mom's purse to join a wrestling gym and train under a peophille who needed the tax write-off. That's Sean Stevens. And yet you had the foresight to cut ties with the woman who stopped you from blowing up five minutes into a match. Good move, irritant. Let's be honest. Troy Windham got a gig on an adapation of a Spanish Soap Opera and bailed. What were you, tenth on the list of names Dan called?
So now it's Triple X, the blue-eyed bad ass who gets to hit the woman, show his dick, and tell her the good times are not where the meteroexuals are at. This is what your life has come down to. What your career has become. You were offered a role and you jumped at it.
You haven't changed a bit from that kid who walked into Greensboro and **** himself over getting to shake my hands and stand in the opposite corner. You waited a year until Merritt called you and said, "There's a role that needs to be filled. Be here by Wednesday."
You're not a trend setter. At least Hiroshi thinks he's Jean Luc Picard. Trip you're just along for the ride, wherever another person's hard work and talent takes you. When people see you now, what's the first thing they ask? "Where's Ivy?"
Don't ****ing make yourself out to be John Wayne when you can't even tie your own shoes in this business, kid.
I've done something that none of you will at least admit to. I've ****ed a World Champion. A woman. I know Hornet had offers from you and Ivy, Sean, but I'd like to think you never took him up on that. I've ****ed the EPW World Champion. If you can't beat them, let them beat you. One day, when you're old enough, you'll understand.
Whether I walk out with the belt, or it comes home with my baby, I couldn't care one way or the other. If I leave only with the ability to 'play' champion, well, we're all back on equal footing then, huh? At least with my roleplay there's a point of reference.
Hiroshi. We all started in the mid-card. Maybe this is your year. Maybe Kin Hirshoi is that rare athlete who can sell Muffins AND front a company. But, you'll find when you finally start making waves, there's always the under current to pull your ass back in. You broke up the Project, but in the process freed the monkey off my back. If you want relevancy, the World Title, if you want to pin me or Troy....you have to handle the monster you've created.
I should be THANKING you.
You freed me of Cruise and have me back in a MAIN EVENT.
If you cure cancer next, I'll really be impressed.
(FTB)
jayshort
Long Live THE KING
Re: UNLEASHED: Troy vs. Melton vs. Brown vs. Beast vs. Stevens vs. Hiroshi - World Title
"I'm loving the fact that after everything I've said to you Joey, you still seem to think I have an emotional attachment to Ivy McGinnis."
fade-in:
Triple X, sleeveless tee, gym shorts, stool.
"There's that word again. You and I both know that you have no business thinking, but then again, we both know you have no business wrestling yet you've somehow managed to hustle your way into a main event spot, haven't you, you little slickster?" Trip winked. "I guess the old man's still got it, eh?
"Congratulations, Lindsay ... you have now officially joined the other ninety-nine point nine percent of women in America in relationships who failed to realize beforehand that they were being used. I bet your mom is over at Hiroshi's mom's house right now, sharing muffin recipes, and stories of when you were children.
" Let me let you in on something, so you'll have a better understanding of the way my mind works, Melton. I'm not your average ... Joe, so-to-speak." he snickered. "Not the average wrestler, not the average thinker, in fact, there's nothing about me that you will see from somebody else. If Ivy McGinnis is revered as a wrestling prize piece, if there are actual wrestler's lining up at the door for the opportunity to win her heart, rest assured that when we were together, she was nothing more than my Tuesday b#tch.
"That's it, Joe. That's the relationship in a nutshell. No groceries, no love, no marriage ... in fact, you wanna hear a funny story? Sure ya do. It's common knowledge in Greensboro and, well ... the world that Ivy can't cook for sh#t, yet I had the b#tch cooking me spaghetti, apologizing to me, when I was caught cheating."
He laughed.
"Yes ... the sex was that good. Lindsay, take notice.
"And, if you think for one single, solitary second that I give a flying f#ck about a fan asking me where Ivy is, you must've missed the part where I explained in British English that I never gave a f#ck about a fan in the first place. But, that's what happens when you start thinking, Joe. You start reiterating my point, without even knowing. Next thing you know you'll be finishing my sentences, making moon eyes, and sh#t. Listen carefully in case you missed it last time, Ivy politicked me into ten title matches that resulted into ten titles and millions of dollars that ultimately helped me become an international superstar, revered in countries I can barely even pronounce.
"In your own head, you're right, you're a superstar, one of the biggest names in this industry. In real life, Joey? ...I currently wrestle in top tier promotions, promotions that do a little more than one show a year, where no one has ever even heard of you. I took a poll. And, that's why I feel it's my civic duty to see to it that they never hear of you. I'm not like you, Melton ... I'm not some one trick pony, sitting in the same circle of federations, with the same people, telling the same stories. The EPW World title may worth ten cents, but you can bet your last dollar on these two facts ... fact one, it's highly probable that I'm wrestling somewhere else where the world title is worth a tad bit more, because, one, I get bored easily, and because, well ... I'm that sought after. And, fact two ... that belt's current value kinda contradicts your theory that Lindsay can get a four star match out of a rock, let alone actually ... wrestle.
"But, don't worry about that, Joey. Once again, it's the 'blue-eyed badass' to the rescue. Stripping paper champions and saving promotions is what I do. Sh#t ... Erik Zeiba and Dan Ryan would probably own your home federation if I didn't put their whole 'global' invasion on ice. In retrospect ... YOU should be thanking ME."
His long golden locks hung gently just below his shoulders. He ran his fingers through them, before refocusing.
"As for you, Hiroshi ... I could be wrong, but it seems like you've changed from a comedian, to somebody who thought he could talk himself up into believing he stood a chance at winning this match, into the little engine that could.
He lightened his voice, "Hey everybody! Look at me! I'm here! I can fight! I have highlights, too!"
He shook his head, disappointed.
"Point, blank, period ... you're better off f#cking goats, and baking muffins because you winning this match just isn't a possibility. NOTHING other than me winning my first EPW World Heavyweight Championship at Unleashed is a possibility. You may be able to talk trash better than Ali, and while I can definitely hold my own in that department ... I kinda pride myself on the little things. Things that apparently don't matter much to you. Stuff like being able to DOMINATE my sport like Ali. But, that's another one of our differences, I guess.
"You win matches, you lose matches. Me? I just win. I beat *****es up. Male, female, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, infants. Look at my eyes, Kin ... no cut cards here. I'll shake your hand in one scenario, and beat your brain in the very second you turn your back. That's just what I do. I win, at all costs, by any means necessary.
Joey Melton has a tape of me sniffing underwear Hornet f#cked Ivy in? No biggie. That was a cheap price to pay for another title in my display case.
He cleared his throat.
"I've found it to be hard for people like you to understand a person like me, Kin, so I never really go too far into an explanation. All I know is, you can compare yourself to whomever you please. When that bell rings, you're a victim. A victim who never realized he was one until the trap was set. ...the best kind of victim, an easy one.
"And, when it's all said and done, maybe you, Melton, Troy, Beast and Brown can form a boy band. ...I hear pop is still crazy over in Europe. Atleast you won't be totally broke. I'm trying to help you pick out career options because I've seen this happen all too many times, and if this is your only ticket to fame, fortune, and glory, and you don't have a back up plan...
"...you'll probably have to move back home with your 'proud' parent. But, hey ... I'm relieving Lindsay of her public appearances, too. You, your mom, against Lindsay and hers could be a killer game of spades. But, then again ... you'd both probably find a way to suck at that, too.
"The life of a loser is hard to overcome. Right, Joey?"
Trip got up from his stool and walked away, with the camera staying focused on him until it faded out.
fade-to-black
"I'm loving the fact that after everything I've said to you Joey, you still seem to think I have an emotional attachment to Ivy McGinnis."
fade-in:
Triple X, sleeveless tee, gym shorts, stool.
"There's that word again. You and I both know that you have no business thinking, but then again, we both know you have no business wrestling yet you've somehow managed to hustle your way into a main event spot, haven't you, you little slickster?" Trip winked. "I guess the old man's still got it, eh?
"Congratulations, Lindsay ... you have now officially joined the other ninety-nine point nine percent of women in America in relationships who failed to realize beforehand that they were being used. I bet your mom is over at Hiroshi's mom's house right now, sharing muffin recipes, and stories of when you were children.
" Let me let you in on something, so you'll have a better understanding of the way my mind works, Melton. I'm not your average ... Joe, so-to-speak." he snickered. "Not the average wrestler, not the average thinker, in fact, there's nothing about me that you will see from somebody else. If Ivy McGinnis is revered as a wrestling prize piece, if there are actual wrestler's lining up at the door for the opportunity to win her heart, rest assured that when we were together, she was nothing more than my Tuesday b#tch.
"That's it, Joe. That's the relationship in a nutshell. No groceries, no love, no marriage ... in fact, you wanna hear a funny story? Sure ya do. It's common knowledge in Greensboro and, well ... the world that Ivy can't cook for sh#t, yet I had the b#tch cooking me spaghetti, apologizing to me, when I was caught cheating."
He laughed.
"Yes ... the sex was that good. Lindsay, take notice.
"And, if you think for one single, solitary second that I give a flying f#ck about a fan asking me where Ivy is, you must've missed the part where I explained in British English that I never gave a f#ck about a fan in the first place. But, that's what happens when you start thinking, Joe. You start reiterating my point, without even knowing. Next thing you know you'll be finishing my sentences, making moon eyes, and sh#t. Listen carefully in case you missed it last time, Ivy politicked me into ten title matches that resulted into ten titles and millions of dollars that ultimately helped me become an international superstar, revered in countries I can barely even pronounce.
"In your own head, you're right, you're a superstar, one of the biggest names in this industry. In real life, Joey? ...I currently wrestle in top tier promotions, promotions that do a little more than one show a year, where no one has ever even heard of you. I took a poll. And, that's why I feel it's my civic duty to see to it that they never hear of you. I'm not like you, Melton ... I'm not some one trick pony, sitting in the same circle of federations, with the same people, telling the same stories. The EPW World title may worth ten cents, but you can bet your last dollar on these two facts ... fact one, it's highly probable that I'm wrestling somewhere else where the world title is worth a tad bit more, because, one, I get bored easily, and because, well ... I'm that sought after. And, fact two ... that belt's current value kinda contradicts your theory that Lindsay can get a four star match out of a rock, let alone actually ... wrestle.
"But, don't worry about that, Joey. Once again, it's the 'blue-eyed badass' to the rescue. Stripping paper champions and saving promotions is what I do. Sh#t ... Erik Zeiba and Dan Ryan would probably own your home federation if I didn't put their whole 'global' invasion on ice. In retrospect ... YOU should be thanking ME."
His long golden locks hung gently just below his shoulders. He ran his fingers through them, before refocusing.
"As for you, Hiroshi ... I could be wrong, but it seems like you've changed from a comedian, to somebody who thought he could talk himself up into believing he stood a chance at winning this match, into the little engine that could.
He lightened his voice, "Hey everybody! Look at me! I'm here! I can fight! I have highlights, too!"
He shook his head, disappointed.
"Point, blank, period ... you're better off f#cking goats, and baking muffins because you winning this match just isn't a possibility. NOTHING other than me winning my first EPW World Heavyweight Championship at Unleashed is a possibility. You may be able to talk trash better than Ali, and while I can definitely hold my own in that department ... I kinda pride myself on the little things. Things that apparently don't matter much to you. Stuff like being able to DOMINATE my sport like Ali. But, that's another one of our differences, I guess.
"You win matches, you lose matches. Me? I just win. I beat *****es up. Male, female, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, infants. Look at my eyes, Kin ... no cut cards here. I'll shake your hand in one scenario, and beat your brain in the very second you turn your back. That's just what I do. I win, at all costs, by any means necessary.
Joey Melton has a tape of me sniffing underwear Hornet f#cked Ivy in? No biggie. That was a cheap price to pay for another title in my display case.
He cleared his throat.
"I've found it to be hard for people like you to understand a person like me, Kin, so I never really go too far into an explanation. All I know is, you can compare yourself to whomever you please. When that bell rings, you're a victim. A victim who never realized he was one until the trap was set. ...the best kind of victim, an easy one.
"And, when it's all said and done, maybe you, Melton, Troy, Beast and Brown can form a boy band. ...I hear pop is still crazy over in Europe. Atleast you won't be totally broke. I'm trying to help you pick out career options because I've seen this happen all too many times, and if this is your only ticket to fame, fortune, and glory, and you don't have a back up plan...
"...you'll probably have to move back home with your 'proud' parent. But, hey ... I'm relieving Lindsay of her public appearances, too. You, your mom, against Lindsay and hers could be a killer game of spades. But, then again ... you'd both probably find a way to suck at that, too.
"The life of a loser is hard to overcome. Right, Joey?"
Trip got up from his stool and walked away, with the camera staying focused on him until it faded out.
fade-to-black
Last edited:
QueenOfTheRing
AKA Mom
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,625
- Points
- 36
Proof that God has a sense of humor...
"Actually, Trip, I'm surprised you even know how to spell SAT. You are blonde, after all."
Troy leaned non-nonchalantly against the pearly white door frame with her back to the camera, eyeing various hotel workers as they scurried to place chairs in rows and run wires across the floor of one of The Drake's large ballrooms. Her hair was piled messily on top of her head and the shirt and jeans she adorned hugged her body tightly.
"It's because of this that I have to keep reminding myself that behind the game you're trying to run on me, you're really just a dip**** with a bunch of air between your ears. I also have to remind myself that you're a man which means you think with your dick and talk out of your ass."
"I do have to thank you though for the reminder that I'm a woman in a predominantly male world, as though ten years in the business would have rendered me naive to think otherwise. But where you're abysmally wrong is that men have come to respect what I can do and have done in the ring; as much as I'm sure it pains that ninety-five percent to do so on a daily basis, it's a simple fact of life that even Charlotte Rae can attest to."
"I've labeled you a failure because that is what you are outside of one faint glimmer of hope last week. Someone thought it'd be funny to play a joke on you and get your hopes up that you had a shot in hell of walking into the pay-per-view with a year of ring-rust to your credit and walking out of it with my belt and everything it symbolizes. Life's cruel and funny that way, kind of like when God created the armadillo and the platypus."
"I could have done so many other things with my life than be in this business; I could have run a Fortune 500 company at twenty years old like what was intended for me to do after college. I could have operated my uncle's dojo and convinced him to settle for an early retirement. Fact is, Trip, when it came down to doing what was expected of me or doing what I wanted, it's pretty easy to see which path I chose."
"Unfortunately for you and for everyone else, it's been a bitter pill to swallow this last decade, having to put your pride aside and admit that ...****, the girl's got skills. The girl got proper training and paid her dues, the girl spent some time overseas and the girl put the hours in, perfecting her craft and becoming the Queen."
She turns around as the ballroom doors close behind her.
"I bet the boys had to drink a lot of water just so the pill would go down easier."
"It must be hard out there for a pimp, Trip, especially for a white boy like you. How deep did you have to dig into the Barrel of Rejected Gimmicks to pull that one out? Hiroshi tries to have the market cornered, but ends up just looking like a pedophile when he can only get underage Japanese schoolgirls. You want to go all exclusive "name-droppy" on me, talking about my 'crew' when everyone knows Hornet and I don't get along, Shane Southern and I haven't had a conversation in close to a year, I haven't seen Deac since December and I'm a closer friend of Ivy's than I am of Eli's, but I'm smart...I won't go down that road. I know better."
"I know better because the **** I have on you would go so far over everyone's head that it'd be a disservice to air it out and stink up the place even more than you've already done."
"And you know something else? You've got zero room to talk about my relationship with Melton when you've ****ed up the best thing that ever happened to you by disappearing off the face of the ******* Earth...twice."
"If you're not careful, the only oral you'll be getting is surgery after I become the Twenty-First Century Jackson Pollack and drive my fist out the back of your head just to see how the red will splatter on the canvas."
"Kin tries to paint a better world for himself; a world where what he did five years ago is still remembered and cared about, where questioning my femininity and making the odd 'barefoot in the kitchen, making sandwiches' comments were still considered 'hip' and 'cool' and the thing to base an argument around, where he'll live happily ever after in a vat of his Hiroshi-Berry Muffin Batter with a goat to cuddle with as the stars twinkle in the sky."
"And then, reality sets in."
"The reality is this, gentlemen...no matter how many dead horses you call wisecracks and jokes are dragged out here and beaten, no matter how many times you stick your fingers down your throats and regurgitate the same stupid cliches that men before you have uttered and ultimately came to regret, no matter if Andrew Dice Clay is writing your material, what has happened before will come to pass once again once it's time for me to defend my title."
"I'll win."
"Not because you all were bad, but because I'm better."
"I've created what Joey Melton is, and it's true that I smacked him into sobriety four years ago."
"But what Master created, Master can just as easily take apart."
"You're right, Joey, let's not split hairs, because if I have to hear you shrieking at seven AM because you found another one I'm going to throw you off my hotel balcony."
"But I'll be there to pull you back up as you hang teetering over the edge. Just like I always do, baby, because Adrian's not strong enough and there's no one else who would give a ****."
"You've taken too many chances in your life, Joey, and this is the way they're going to play out this time. Chances aren't that you'll be walking out of this match with my belt. Chances are I'll be paying for your pacemaker because you weren't able to keep up."
"Every great loses a step."
"And my shoes are just too big for you, or for anyone else, to fill."
Fade...
"Actually, Trip, I'm surprised you even know how to spell SAT. You are blonde, after all."
Troy leaned non-nonchalantly against the pearly white door frame with her back to the camera, eyeing various hotel workers as they scurried to place chairs in rows and run wires across the floor of one of The Drake's large ballrooms. Her hair was piled messily on top of her head and the shirt and jeans she adorned hugged her body tightly.
"It's because of this that I have to keep reminding myself that behind the game you're trying to run on me, you're really just a dip**** with a bunch of air between your ears. I also have to remind myself that you're a man which means you think with your dick and talk out of your ass."
"I do have to thank you though for the reminder that I'm a woman in a predominantly male world, as though ten years in the business would have rendered me naive to think otherwise. But where you're abysmally wrong is that men have come to respect what I can do and have done in the ring; as much as I'm sure it pains that ninety-five percent to do so on a daily basis, it's a simple fact of life that even Charlotte Rae can attest to."
"I've labeled you a failure because that is what you are outside of one faint glimmer of hope last week. Someone thought it'd be funny to play a joke on you and get your hopes up that you had a shot in hell of walking into the pay-per-view with a year of ring-rust to your credit and walking out of it with my belt and everything it symbolizes. Life's cruel and funny that way, kind of like when God created the armadillo and the platypus."
"I could have done so many other things with my life than be in this business; I could have run a Fortune 500 company at twenty years old like what was intended for me to do after college. I could have operated my uncle's dojo and convinced him to settle for an early retirement. Fact is, Trip, when it came down to doing what was expected of me or doing what I wanted, it's pretty easy to see which path I chose."
"Unfortunately for you and for everyone else, it's been a bitter pill to swallow this last decade, having to put your pride aside and admit that ...****, the girl's got skills. The girl got proper training and paid her dues, the girl spent some time overseas and the girl put the hours in, perfecting her craft and becoming the Queen."
She turns around as the ballroom doors close behind her.
"I bet the boys had to drink a lot of water just so the pill would go down easier."
"It must be hard out there for a pimp, Trip, especially for a white boy like you. How deep did you have to dig into the Barrel of Rejected Gimmicks to pull that one out? Hiroshi tries to have the market cornered, but ends up just looking like a pedophile when he can only get underage Japanese schoolgirls. You want to go all exclusive "name-droppy" on me, talking about my 'crew' when everyone knows Hornet and I don't get along, Shane Southern and I haven't had a conversation in close to a year, I haven't seen Deac since December and I'm a closer friend of Ivy's than I am of Eli's, but I'm smart...I won't go down that road. I know better."
"I know better because the **** I have on you would go so far over everyone's head that it'd be a disservice to air it out and stink up the place even more than you've already done."
"And you know something else? You've got zero room to talk about my relationship with Melton when you've ****ed up the best thing that ever happened to you by disappearing off the face of the ******* Earth...twice."
"If you're not careful, the only oral you'll be getting is surgery after I become the Twenty-First Century Jackson Pollack and drive my fist out the back of your head just to see how the red will splatter on the canvas."
"Kin tries to paint a better world for himself; a world where what he did five years ago is still remembered and cared about, where questioning my femininity and making the odd 'barefoot in the kitchen, making sandwiches' comments were still considered 'hip' and 'cool' and the thing to base an argument around, where he'll live happily ever after in a vat of his Hiroshi-Berry Muffin Batter with a goat to cuddle with as the stars twinkle in the sky."
"And then, reality sets in."
"The reality is this, gentlemen...no matter how many dead horses you call wisecracks and jokes are dragged out here and beaten, no matter how many times you stick your fingers down your throats and regurgitate the same stupid cliches that men before you have uttered and ultimately came to regret, no matter if Andrew Dice Clay is writing your material, what has happened before will come to pass once again once it's time for me to defend my title."
"I'll win."
"Not because you all were bad, but because I'm better."
"I've created what Joey Melton is, and it's true that I smacked him into sobriety four years ago."
"But what Master created, Master can just as easily take apart."
"You're right, Joey, let's not split hairs, because if I have to hear you shrieking at seven AM because you found another one I'm going to throw you off my hotel balcony."
"But I'll be there to pull you back up as you hang teetering over the edge. Just like I always do, baby, because Adrian's not strong enough and there's no one else who would give a ****."
"You've taken too many chances in your life, Joey, and this is the way they're going to play out this time. Chances aren't that you'll be walking out of this match with my belt. Chances are I'll be paying for your pacemaker because you weren't able to keep up."
"Every great loses a step."
"And my shoes are just too big for you, or for anyone else, to fill."
Fade...
Steve
the EX-QUEEN of FW~!
(FADEIN: Joey Melton in front of an UNLEASHED backdrop.)
MELTON: Oh, for ****'s sake. I'm not THAT old.
Lindsay I tried to be nice. Like All-State, I left you in good hands, and then you go and say something like that. You take our private dom/sub game and release it to the public like a million dollar shot of Suri Xenu Cruise. I tried to be Richie instead of the Fronz for once and you emasculate me as easily as you poured milk over your honey nut cheerios at ten past eight this morning. Let's be clear, Joey Melton's not a buck you shot with a night vision scope from a hundred feet away, crouched in the bush like you were ****ing Billy Bear hunting a Predator.
You didn't create Joey Melton. And you sure as hell don't master him without a safe word. You helped me pass a drug test. Nothing more nothing less. We can get into a dick judging contest about who's helped whom's career more, but if that happens on your end I'll be severely disturbed, and mildly impressed that you've hid it for this long. You know as well as I, that every strong woman likes to be a whore in bed. Need I go there? Need I tell the EPW faithful their World Champion likes to lie on a towel every third Thursday just after ER, and have Joey Melton piss on her and tell her she's a good girl?
Me not chasing your title and laying in the shadows reinventing the tag scene, well that's your reward for good behavior. You can ride your own dead horse about me tagging with Father Time, or once dropping a World Title strap to Baby Moses, but since Joey Melton became a world-renowned name in this business, my career has lasted eighteen years. How many pieces of **** that you beat three years ago on your way to “meaningless title ABC” are still in the business? Eighteen years from now Lindsay you’re going to be raising my kids, *****ing over dinner about what Suzie Homemaker said at the latest PTA meeting.
I’m not Wrestler of the Year. I haven’t held a World Title in a while, but the great thing about having a career that’s stood the test of time, well, there’s never a shortage of opportunities. I’m so great I don’t think it’s possible to ruin the name Joey Melton. I snorted a line of coke that took me from Greensboro to Japan and in the Hinterlands of sports entertainment, but a good promo and two wins strung together and Joey Melton’s having his list of demands met to come pop a number. I couldn’t have burned more bridges if I spat gasoline as I went, but here I am, in another Main Event, moving merchandise off shelves faster than Ryan can print. So, don’t any of you irritants make the mistake of thinking I’m in this because of charity. I TOOK CAMERON CRUISE TO A WORLD TITLE. I made Cameron Cruise sell! Take a deep breath and listen to the words again. Trip, you’ve won a handful of titles that nobody remembers. Hiroshi, no, not going there. Lindsay, my love, maybe there’s some 12 year-old girl who thinks she can now, and you know, that’s a great thing, but there are teams working in this company drawing a ****ing pay check because Joey Melton made tag wrestling cool again. Because I made it profitable to be booked.
I CREATE JOBS.
You think you’re going to blow me up in the ring? I’m in the best shape of my life. And I’d damn sure bet my body is in better condition than any other in this match. Between hardcore styles, guys, and Troy’s trapeze act, it’s a miracle you’re still able to put one foot in front of the other. I know how to pick my spots better than anyone in wrestling history. Even at my advanced age, I’ve got three seconds to spare, and that’s all I need to front this company and finally give the fans a man of TRUE WRESTLING ROYALTY TO MARK OVER.
Lindsay, you can’t even beat me in ****ing CONNECT FOUR How many times have I watched you draw from the bottom of the deck on poker night? I’ve given in and let you win because your crazy competitive streak gives me a raging hard on, but in the ring, it’s all business, and it’d be a disservice to you and your reign as champ not to check in at the front door.
If you can beat me, and I don’t think you can, I’ll get on the microphone and admit you’re the better wrestler just like I did for Cruise last fall.
Sean…
Yeah, yeah you’re a big star Trip. Did you also reedit the bible to weed out the contradictions? A better question is, have you wrestled in the last year? You may have made a name for yourself, but the only club you can get into that I can’t, is the Blue Oyster bar.
I fail to see how Ivy cooking means you’re not full of ****, but that’s just me.
You’ve spent your entire career TRYING to be as big of a star as Joey Melton, and you’ve failed. This is what you’ve waited for, to square off against the UNIFIER in a World Title Match. But don’t worry. I’ll pose for a picture and give you the shirt off my back, just like I did years ago.
(FTB)
MELTON: Oh, for ****'s sake. I'm not THAT old.
Lindsay I tried to be nice. Like All-State, I left you in good hands, and then you go and say something like that. You take our private dom/sub game and release it to the public like a million dollar shot of Suri Xenu Cruise. I tried to be Richie instead of the Fronz for once and you emasculate me as easily as you poured milk over your honey nut cheerios at ten past eight this morning. Let's be clear, Joey Melton's not a buck you shot with a night vision scope from a hundred feet away, crouched in the bush like you were ****ing Billy Bear hunting a Predator.
You didn't create Joey Melton. And you sure as hell don't master him without a safe word. You helped me pass a drug test. Nothing more nothing less. We can get into a dick judging contest about who's helped whom's career more, but if that happens on your end I'll be severely disturbed, and mildly impressed that you've hid it for this long. You know as well as I, that every strong woman likes to be a whore in bed. Need I go there? Need I tell the EPW faithful their World Champion likes to lie on a towel every third Thursday just after ER, and have Joey Melton piss on her and tell her she's a good girl?
Me not chasing your title and laying in the shadows reinventing the tag scene, well that's your reward for good behavior. You can ride your own dead horse about me tagging with Father Time, or once dropping a World Title strap to Baby Moses, but since Joey Melton became a world-renowned name in this business, my career has lasted eighteen years. How many pieces of **** that you beat three years ago on your way to “meaningless title ABC” are still in the business? Eighteen years from now Lindsay you’re going to be raising my kids, *****ing over dinner about what Suzie Homemaker said at the latest PTA meeting.
I’m not Wrestler of the Year. I haven’t held a World Title in a while, but the great thing about having a career that’s stood the test of time, well, there’s never a shortage of opportunities. I’m so great I don’t think it’s possible to ruin the name Joey Melton. I snorted a line of coke that took me from Greensboro to Japan and in the Hinterlands of sports entertainment, but a good promo and two wins strung together and Joey Melton’s having his list of demands met to come pop a number. I couldn’t have burned more bridges if I spat gasoline as I went, but here I am, in another Main Event, moving merchandise off shelves faster than Ryan can print. So, don’t any of you irritants make the mistake of thinking I’m in this because of charity. I TOOK CAMERON CRUISE TO A WORLD TITLE. I made Cameron Cruise sell! Take a deep breath and listen to the words again. Trip, you’ve won a handful of titles that nobody remembers. Hiroshi, no, not going there. Lindsay, my love, maybe there’s some 12 year-old girl who thinks she can now, and you know, that’s a great thing, but there are teams working in this company drawing a ****ing pay check because Joey Melton made tag wrestling cool again. Because I made it profitable to be booked.
I CREATE JOBS.
You think you’re going to blow me up in the ring? I’m in the best shape of my life. And I’d damn sure bet my body is in better condition than any other in this match. Between hardcore styles, guys, and Troy’s trapeze act, it’s a miracle you’re still able to put one foot in front of the other. I know how to pick my spots better than anyone in wrestling history. Even at my advanced age, I’ve got three seconds to spare, and that’s all I need to front this company and finally give the fans a man of TRUE WRESTLING ROYALTY TO MARK OVER.
Lindsay, you can’t even beat me in ****ing CONNECT FOUR How many times have I watched you draw from the bottom of the deck on poker night? I’ve given in and let you win because your crazy competitive streak gives me a raging hard on, but in the ring, it’s all business, and it’d be a disservice to you and your reign as champ not to check in at the front door.
If you can beat me, and I don’t think you can, I’ll get on the microphone and admit you’re the better wrestler just like I did for Cruise last fall.
Sean…
Yeah, yeah you’re a big star Trip. Did you also reedit the bible to weed out the contradictions? A better question is, have you wrestled in the last year? You may have made a name for yourself, but the only club you can get into that I can’t, is the Blue Oyster bar.
I fail to see how Ivy cooking means you’re not full of ****, but that’s just me.
You’ve spent your entire career TRYING to be as big of a star as Joey Melton, and you’ve failed. This is what you’ve waited for, to square off against the UNIFIER in a World Title Match. But don’t worry. I’ll pose for a picture and give you the shirt off my back, just like I did years ago.
(FTB)
jayshort
Long Live THE KING
Re: UNLEASHED: Troy vs. Melton vs. Brown vs. Beast vs. Stevens vs. Hiroshi - World Title
"Oooooooh, blonde joke. You GOT me. You should be proud, or at the very least, your mom should be," sarcasm. "Three days worth of silence, three days worth of thinking, and thatwas all you could come up with? You could've said anything. I kept my mouth shut, gave you the floor, hoping your response would be ... what's the word I'm looking for?..." Sean snapped his fingers. "...entertaining, maybe? A little more like a wrestling promo, a little less like a lecture. Love tends to blind you like that."
fade-in:
Triple X, close up, facial shot. Blue eyes, slight beard, sweaty locks.
"I still want to f#ck though," he smiled. "But, before we get into all of that, let me ask you a question. No, let me ask you a question, simultaneously tying your boyfriend to John Kerry. Lindsay ... say I can't spell. Say I'm the dumbest motherf#cker on the planet, bookwise. When I take my fist and bust you in your f#cking face, do I have to spell a word before I pin you? Should I use the word in a sentence?"
He paused, almost awaiting an answer.
"Furthermore, Joe ... if that lady I used to screw's cooking is irrelevant, shouldn't your girlfriend's brilliant observation be held in that same category?"
Pausing again, he still didn't receive his answer. "But, I'm starting to understand how you are, Joe. You're the modern day flip-flopper for lack of a better term. You believe what you believe when it's convenient for you to believe it, and when it's not ... you just close your eyes and pretend it never happened. Lindsay is never going to be a strong champion, or half the competitor she could be with people like you always giving her a pass.
"Lindsay, you keep referring to the game I'm playing, as if I'm some child. I'm not playing games, Lindz ... I'm giving it to you as straight as I can. When I say I want to sleep with you, I'm not trying to get into your head. I'm trying to get you to give me head."
A look came over him, he got lost in his thoughts about the possibility of his last statement. A couple of seconds later, he snapped out of it.
"And, let me give you a little bit of advice. Nobody cares that you went to college, nobody cares that you scored high on the verbal end of the SAT. All those big words, it makes you think you're smart, and a small percentage of your fanbase may believe what you're selling, but I guarantee you the other ninety-nine percent don't understand a f#cking word you say. A whole bunch of big words don't make you deep, it makes you confusing. Lucky for you, you got your looks. Britney can't sing, but it helped her make fifty million, or so.
"...and, you've got your own personal Kevin Federline, too. Don't think about it, Joey ... just go with the flow.
"And, thank you very much for the update on your social status, as if I cared. You name dropped that lady I dated long before I ever mentioned anybody. They're still p#ssy, and you still should know it. But do me a favor, don't talk about gimmicks, because the Spice Girls' girl power fizzled in ninety-eight. It's great that they've got people, women, you to carry the torch, continue the fight, so-to-speak, but it still doesn't change the fact that they eventually went away and became baby mama's.
"Don't get me wrong, Lindsay. I like women who feel empowered. I love it when my b#tches dig into their purse to pay the McDonald's bill. I'm not trying to stop all of the progress that women have made. I never said you'd lose this match because you were a woman. You're gonna lose this match because, well ... you're not talented, and I'm in it. Ring rust? You're hoping there's ring rust, because it makes you look like a little less of a champion if I walk into Unleashed after a year off and beat you. If I'm a step slow, I'm still ten steps ahead of you, and twenty ahead of Joey Melton. It's not ego, it's the truth. I am the truth.
"I never dropped off the face of the earth. I was at my apartment in Orlando. My luxurious, spacious love nest, with the california king sized bed, located at 4315 Murkirk Road, apartment number 317, about ten minutes from the airport, a cab'll get you there in five," he winked.
"That lady that I dated was your friend, so it's easy to take her side, but at the end of the day, if you can't keep up, you get left behind. I'm sure she's just as happy about you defending her, as she is upset about my telling the world the truth about our relationship, and while I'm digging the whole lesbian vibe ... don't ever presume that you know me. You got something on me? Don't do me any favors, Lindz. Do what you gotta do to help your case. Maybe if it's juicy enough, it'll affect me. Turn this match from a two minute Sean Stevens victory into a five minute one.
"But, I digress. You people will never understand the extent of my skill level until you see it up close and personal. In two matches, I'll have beaten the entire roster, and a couple. I don't need your respect, or recognization. The world already knows, and that title, it's just confirmation."
fade-to-black
"Oooooooh, blonde joke. You GOT me. You should be proud, or at the very least, your mom should be," sarcasm. "Three days worth of silence, three days worth of thinking, and thatwas all you could come up with? You could've said anything. I kept my mouth shut, gave you the floor, hoping your response would be ... what's the word I'm looking for?..." Sean snapped his fingers. "...entertaining, maybe? A little more like a wrestling promo, a little less like a lecture. Love tends to blind you like that."
fade-in:
Triple X, close up, facial shot. Blue eyes, slight beard, sweaty locks.
"I still want to f#ck though," he smiled. "But, before we get into all of that, let me ask you a question. No, let me ask you a question, simultaneously tying your boyfriend to John Kerry. Lindsay ... say I can't spell. Say I'm the dumbest motherf#cker on the planet, bookwise. When I take my fist and bust you in your f#cking face, do I have to spell a word before I pin you? Should I use the word in a sentence?"
He paused, almost awaiting an answer.
"Furthermore, Joe ... if that lady I used to screw's cooking is irrelevant, shouldn't your girlfriend's brilliant observation be held in that same category?"
Pausing again, he still didn't receive his answer. "But, I'm starting to understand how you are, Joe. You're the modern day flip-flopper for lack of a better term. You believe what you believe when it's convenient for you to believe it, and when it's not ... you just close your eyes and pretend it never happened. Lindsay is never going to be a strong champion, or half the competitor she could be with people like you always giving her a pass.
"Lindsay, you keep referring to the game I'm playing, as if I'm some child. I'm not playing games, Lindz ... I'm giving it to you as straight as I can. When I say I want to sleep with you, I'm not trying to get into your head. I'm trying to get you to give me head."
A look came over him, he got lost in his thoughts about the possibility of his last statement. A couple of seconds later, he snapped out of it.
"And, let me give you a little bit of advice. Nobody cares that you went to college, nobody cares that you scored high on the verbal end of the SAT. All those big words, it makes you think you're smart, and a small percentage of your fanbase may believe what you're selling, but I guarantee you the other ninety-nine percent don't understand a f#cking word you say. A whole bunch of big words don't make you deep, it makes you confusing. Lucky for you, you got your looks. Britney can't sing, but it helped her make fifty million, or so.
"...and, you've got your own personal Kevin Federline, too. Don't think about it, Joey ... just go with the flow.
"And, thank you very much for the update on your social status, as if I cared. You name dropped that lady I dated long before I ever mentioned anybody. They're still p#ssy, and you still should know it. But do me a favor, don't talk about gimmicks, because the Spice Girls' girl power fizzled in ninety-eight. It's great that they've got people, women, you to carry the torch, continue the fight, so-to-speak, but it still doesn't change the fact that they eventually went away and became baby mama's.
"Don't get me wrong, Lindsay. I like women who feel empowered. I love it when my b#tches dig into their purse to pay the McDonald's bill. I'm not trying to stop all of the progress that women have made. I never said you'd lose this match because you were a woman. You're gonna lose this match because, well ... you're not talented, and I'm in it. Ring rust? You're hoping there's ring rust, because it makes you look like a little less of a champion if I walk into Unleashed after a year off and beat you. If I'm a step slow, I'm still ten steps ahead of you, and twenty ahead of Joey Melton. It's not ego, it's the truth. I am the truth.
"I never dropped off the face of the earth. I was at my apartment in Orlando. My luxurious, spacious love nest, with the california king sized bed, located at 4315 Murkirk Road, apartment number 317, about ten minutes from the airport, a cab'll get you there in five," he winked.
"That lady that I dated was your friend, so it's easy to take her side, but at the end of the day, if you can't keep up, you get left behind. I'm sure she's just as happy about you defending her, as she is upset about my telling the world the truth about our relationship, and while I'm digging the whole lesbian vibe ... don't ever presume that you know me. You got something on me? Don't do me any favors, Lindz. Do what you gotta do to help your case. Maybe if it's juicy enough, it'll affect me. Turn this match from a two minute Sean Stevens victory into a five minute one.
"But, I digress. You people will never understand the extent of my skill level until you see it up close and personal. In two matches, I'll have beaten the entire roster, and a couple. I don't need your respect, or recognization. The world already knows, and that title, it's just confirmation."
fade-to-black
Last edited:
DizzaHizza
Official Unofficial FW Party Pimp
Hiroshi sits on the steps of a closed Hiroshi-Berry Muffins plant. A reminder of times gone by, and the way things had been for the previous multi-millionaire. Alas, things have changed, and the world has moved on. As for Kin Hiroshi, he was already light years ahead of anyone, and the world was about to take notice.
KIN HIROSHI: “Hey, Joe. Where you going with that gun in your hand?
“Now, from the sounds of how your wife/girlfriend/**** buddy has been treating you, it wouldn’t surprise me if you are going to try and ‘shoot your old lady’ down. Hell, that title she’s got swinging from her waist like the udders of a cow HAS been her distraction.
“Sure, Lindsay might be putting out, smacking your ass like an Asian man does to a goat, but once you back Lindsay up to a cliff, she’s crazy enough to not back into you.
“No, Ms. Troy is crazy enough to jump off that ****er just to prove something to anybody that will watch. She’s already jumped into the ring with MEN twice her size and walked away a world champion. Who knows what she’ll do once she loses that title?
“My best guess is that she’ll finally be ready to settle down with you, Joey. I can see it now, the chapel, the priest, you, Joey, standing at the altar awaiting your lovely bride-to-be. Then there’s Lindsay at the back of the church in a flowing white-dress that isn’t fooling anyone. A beautiful ceremony where Joey cries because he knows that Lindsay’s sand-trap is the last thing his pecker will ever grind into, and everyone throws rice as the happy couple is announced:
“Mrs. And Mr. Lindsay Troy.”
“While I appreciate the convoluted compliments, I’m going to have to ask you to stop it. See, while I thank you for acknowledging the accomplishments and range that The Muffin Man has, you aren’t going to be getting any sympathy votes from me.
”If anything, you should take some more lyrical advice, Joey, and have sympathy for THIS devil. I have been a man of wealth and taste, but you already know my name. But you don’t KNOW the Muffin Man.
”While I’m feeling artistic, let’s move on to Mrs. Troy, who seems apt to think she’s some sort of modern day feminist Jackson Pollock. Lindsay, the day that I consider what you do ‘abstract’ and ‘expressionist’ is the day that I start calling myself Beethoven and banging my head against a keyboard.
“If you’re Pollock, then consider Kin Hiroshi as YOUR Picasso, because I’m going to revolutionize what you do in the ring, Lindsay.
“Put aside the metaphors and allegories. Come right out and say what you want to say: ‘I am woman, here me roar.’ We all know you COULD beat us, Lindsay, but we all know that you WON’T.
“See, I’m not a bad man, I just make bad choices sometimes. I’m a rather good man. In fact, Lindsay, I’m SO good that I’ll take mercy on you as you huddle in a corner after what Joey, Beast, Karl AND, even that whigger, Stevens beat on you.
“The name of the game is going to be Dethrone The Queen, and only WE know the rules. You honestly can’t expect us to go after each other, when YOU hold on to what we value so dearly, can you? You think that once Joey gets in that ring he’ll help you knock the rest of us around so that it’s Troy and Melton left?
”Joey’s too shallow and fickle to let that scenario play out. I guarantee that I’ll be feeling my way through the match, but these slanted-eyes are going to be on the prize.
“F**k all if I let anyone else walk out of that ring with the title.
“You think Stevens will last 30 seconds as champion? Please, his hos will bounce as soon as he has a more suitable income, and if management has a head on their shoulders that belt will be stripped down faster than…
“…faster than…
“…faster than one of his ‘biatches’.
“Sean, it’s about time someone pimp slapped you out of 1979, and caught you up-to-date with what’s ‘trendy’. Pimping is out. Hustling is in. Disco died. American Idols thrive.
“Well, that’s everything important through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s.
“You think that I’m some comedy act that was brought to the American wrestling scene for a quick midget match and to act like a clown? Well, you’ll have to take that up with Erik Zieba, because I’ve ALWAYS taken myself VERY seriously.
“Whether I was winning, or whether I was losing. Don’t give me this ‘I ONLY WIN’ bulls**t because it’s not fooling anyone. Undefeated my left asshole.
“Sure, I might have been taking a nap the past few days and let you gab your jaw about the millions of things that don’t matter to anyone but yourself, but now that Rip Van Winkle is up, he’s ready to whip some ass.
“And that’s one of those little things that you seem to take SOOOO much pride in. Though, I guess I missed the memo that said out-thinking and out-speaking your opponents wasn’t one of those little things.
“When did dominating a sport become a little thing? I mean, last I checked, that was pretty big, and if you’ve been doing that, I give you credit where credit is due.
“But, dollars to donuts, you HAVEN’T been dominating the competition. You’re hardly a speck on the radar, and you’ve flown low to get into this match. Who cares if you beat the entire roster twice or thrice? Nothing like sitting in a corner waiting for everyone else to do all the work, and then jumping out of the shadows that you ‘pimps’ like to hide in.
“Quit calling yourself a ‘pimp’ too. It gives the profession a bad name. If anything, Sean Stevens is a whore himself, and Dan Ryan is his pimp. I mean, you go out there when Dan says to, you wrestle with men, and then you get a cut of the profits.
“We’re all Dan’s *****es. So the money you make, from your ‘womens’ for your car to get you to the arena, or the clothes that are on your back in the ring are all a means for EPW to make more money.
“You’re not in charge here Sean, you never were.
“You’re not even in charge of this match. You’re attitude and your style is behind. Get with the times.
“Get with the revolution that’s falling down around our heads!
“You, Lindsay, Joey? You’re all out, and The Muffin Man is in.
“Beast and Karl? I think they’ve already taken notice of the ripples preceding the waves that The Tokyo Tornado has set in motion.
“Lindsay and Joey, your Love Boat is going to turn into Poseidon during this tsunami, and the hydraulics in your Caddy are going to stop bouncing the minute that Kin Hiroshi wins that title, Sean.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take my outdated references, and get ready for cha-cha-cha-changes.”
KIN HIROSHI: “Hey, Joe. Where you going with that gun in your hand?
“Now, from the sounds of how your wife/girlfriend/**** buddy has been treating you, it wouldn’t surprise me if you are going to try and ‘shoot your old lady’ down. Hell, that title she’s got swinging from her waist like the udders of a cow HAS been her distraction.
“Sure, Lindsay might be putting out, smacking your ass like an Asian man does to a goat, but once you back Lindsay up to a cliff, she’s crazy enough to not back into you.
“No, Ms. Troy is crazy enough to jump off that ****er just to prove something to anybody that will watch. She’s already jumped into the ring with MEN twice her size and walked away a world champion. Who knows what she’ll do once she loses that title?
“My best guess is that she’ll finally be ready to settle down with you, Joey. I can see it now, the chapel, the priest, you, Joey, standing at the altar awaiting your lovely bride-to-be. Then there’s Lindsay at the back of the church in a flowing white-dress that isn’t fooling anyone. A beautiful ceremony where Joey cries because he knows that Lindsay’s sand-trap is the last thing his pecker will ever grind into, and everyone throws rice as the happy couple is announced:
“Mrs. And Mr. Lindsay Troy.”
“While I appreciate the convoluted compliments, I’m going to have to ask you to stop it. See, while I thank you for acknowledging the accomplishments and range that The Muffin Man has, you aren’t going to be getting any sympathy votes from me.
”If anything, you should take some more lyrical advice, Joey, and have sympathy for THIS devil. I have been a man of wealth and taste, but you already know my name. But you don’t KNOW the Muffin Man.
”While I’m feeling artistic, let’s move on to Mrs. Troy, who seems apt to think she’s some sort of modern day feminist Jackson Pollock. Lindsay, the day that I consider what you do ‘abstract’ and ‘expressionist’ is the day that I start calling myself Beethoven and banging my head against a keyboard.
“If you’re Pollock, then consider Kin Hiroshi as YOUR Picasso, because I’m going to revolutionize what you do in the ring, Lindsay.
“Put aside the metaphors and allegories. Come right out and say what you want to say: ‘I am woman, here me roar.’ We all know you COULD beat us, Lindsay, but we all know that you WON’T.
“See, I’m not a bad man, I just make bad choices sometimes. I’m a rather good man. In fact, Lindsay, I’m SO good that I’ll take mercy on you as you huddle in a corner after what Joey, Beast, Karl AND, even that whigger, Stevens beat on you.
“The name of the game is going to be Dethrone The Queen, and only WE know the rules. You honestly can’t expect us to go after each other, when YOU hold on to what we value so dearly, can you? You think that once Joey gets in that ring he’ll help you knock the rest of us around so that it’s Troy and Melton left?
”Joey’s too shallow and fickle to let that scenario play out. I guarantee that I’ll be feeling my way through the match, but these slanted-eyes are going to be on the prize.
“F**k all if I let anyone else walk out of that ring with the title.
“You think Stevens will last 30 seconds as champion? Please, his hos will bounce as soon as he has a more suitable income, and if management has a head on their shoulders that belt will be stripped down faster than…
“…faster than…
“…faster than one of his ‘biatches’.
“Sean, it’s about time someone pimp slapped you out of 1979, and caught you up-to-date with what’s ‘trendy’. Pimping is out. Hustling is in. Disco died. American Idols thrive.
“Well, that’s everything important through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s.
“You think that I’m some comedy act that was brought to the American wrestling scene for a quick midget match and to act like a clown? Well, you’ll have to take that up with Erik Zieba, because I’ve ALWAYS taken myself VERY seriously.
“Whether I was winning, or whether I was losing. Don’t give me this ‘I ONLY WIN’ bulls**t because it’s not fooling anyone. Undefeated my left asshole.
“Sure, I might have been taking a nap the past few days and let you gab your jaw about the millions of things that don’t matter to anyone but yourself, but now that Rip Van Winkle is up, he’s ready to whip some ass.
“And that’s one of those little things that you seem to take SOOOO much pride in. Though, I guess I missed the memo that said out-thinking and out-speaking your opponents wasn’t one of those little things.
“When did dominating a sport become a little thing? I mean, last I checked, that was pretty big, and if you’ve been doing that, I give you credit where credit is due.
“But, dollars to donuts, you HAVEN’T been dominating the competition. You’re hardly a speck on the radar, and you’ve flown low to get into this match. Who cares if you beat the entire roster twice or thrice? Nothing like sitting in a corner waiting for everyone else to do all the work, and then jumping out of the shadows that you ‘pimps’ like to hide in.
“Quit calling yourself a ‘pimp’ too. It gives the profession a bad name. If anything, Sean Stevens is a whore himself, and Dan Ryan is his pimp. I mean, you go out there when Dan says to, you wrestle with men, and then you get a cut of the profits.
“We’re all Dan’s *****es. So the money you make, from your ‘womens’ for your car to get you to the arena, or the clothes that are on your back in the ring are all a means for EPW to make more money.
“You’re not in charge here Sean, you never were.
“You’re not even in charge of this match. You’re attitude and your style is behind. Get with the times.
“Get with the revolution that’s falling down around our heads!
“You, Lindsay, Joey? You’re all out, and The Muffin Man is in.
“Beast and Karl? I think they’ve already taken notice of the ripples preceding the waves that The Tokyo Tornado has set in motion.
“Lindsay and Joey, your Love Boat is going to turn into Poseidon during this tsunami, and the hydraulics in your Caddy are going to stop bouncing the minute that Kin Hiroshi wins that title, Sean.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take my outdated references, and get ready for cha-cha-cha-changes.”
QueenOfTheRing
AKA Mom
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,625
- Points
- 36
Meet the Press
Fade-in: The Drake Room of the Drake Hotel. Crystal and gold chandeliers cast an easy glow down upon the inhabitants that were scattered across the polished floor. The meeting room was abuzz with activity; men and women with lamenated press passes were testing recording devices, microphones, and flashes on their cameras. Others were scribbling into open notebooks to get the ink flowing in their pens. Roadies were doing a last-minute mic check on the room's stage. Some fans with VIP passes were milling around the back and being watched carefully by security. A podium with the Empire Pro insignia stood front and center overlooking the crowd, empty for the moment but sure to be occupied any minute now, while a banner promoting <b>Unleashed</b> hung, pinned against the gold curtain.
A commotion was raised from the side of the room, as two large double-doors were swung open to reveal the subject of the day's apparant press conference: Lindsay Troy, ever the businesswoman, wearing a sharp three-piece skirt-suit, walked into the room with a smile for the crowd. The Empire Pro World Title was folded neatly and held cradled in the crook of her arm. Kenny Lombardo briskly walked ahead of Troy to make the introductions.
KL: On behalf of Empire Pro, I'd like to thank you all for coming here this afternoon. Lindsay will be here to answer your questions for ten to fifteen minutes and will try to get to as many of you as she can. Lindsay?
Troy walked to the podium and placed the title in front of the microphones that were run through the top of the lecturn. She gave the crowd a smile as everyone started talking at once. With a calming motion of her hands, the room managed to quiet down to only a dull roar.
LT: First, let me again echo Kenny's thoughts and thank you all for coming out today. I'm glad to see a fan turnout too. (The crowd in the back marks hard!) I <b>will</b> try to get to as many questions from the press as I can before spending some time with the group in the back. So, ladies and gentlemen, please...let's begin.
With the crowd vying for her attention, she first pointed off to her right.
Rep. 1: Ms. Troy, Cheryl Shea from CBS 2 Chicago. How are you enjoying your time here and what have you been doing?
LT: Well, I've been busy...I've done a lot of promotional events and attended a charity dinner for the Cancer Society the other night. There's been the usual photo ops and sponsor meetings as well. I even went to see that guy in the whiskey sphere that's been getting a lot of press over the course of the last couple weeks.
CS: What is your response to Triple X Sean's Stevens' claim about the length of time between your promotional tapings?
LT: Well, needless to say it's been quite a while since Trip has been the champion of anything.
Laughter.
LT: I'm sure he's just forgotten what it's like to have to represent your company on a championship level. Yes, you sir, over to my left?
Rep. 2: Michael Bryant, WMVP 1000. Any insight to the whereabouts of Beast or Karl Brown?
LT: Karl, no. I haven't spoken to him since Empire Pro held its last Aggression in Salt Lake City. Last I heard Marcus was applying for menial jobs in the Winnipeg arera since he'll be out of a job after our upcoming pay-per-view: window washer, gas pumper, Yogi the Bear impersonator at children's parties. Those sorts of things.
Rep. 3: Rory Douglas, 94.7 WZZN. Do you honestly believe you'll remian professional fighting against Joey Melton, given your relationship?
LT: Ahh, I was waiting for this question. (She smirks) I won't lie to you and say that this was never a topic of conversation between Joey and I. Since I won the title fourteen months ago it's been at the back of my mind; whether I'd ever have to face my fiance and how I would approach the match should it come to pass.
I will say this: regardless of my relationship with Melton, which is no secret at this point, I will not treat him any differently than I will treat anyone else in this six-person match, nor will I treat him any differently than I would treat anyone who should contend for my title down the line. He doesn't like to play nice, and neither do I
I may wear the ring he gave me, but I plan on still wearing my title after this event is over. He'll just have to be content with only sleeping with the World Champ instead of being the World Champ.
A murmur ripples through the crowd before Troy calls on another reporter.
Rep. 4: Ms. Troy, Sharon Callahan from the National Organization of Women.
LT (with a hint of sarcasm): Oh, one of my favorite groups to talk to.
SC: ...right. What is your response to Sean Stevens' gimmick of being a sex trafficker for the new millenium?
LT: Awww Jesus, here we go... (Sighing) The pimp inferences, the *****es and whores and the objectification of female body parts makes me feel like I'm on the set of a bad rap music video with Lil John and the Yin Yang Twins. Last I heard, we didn't have a deal with the USA Network so this Triple X character isn't necessarily welcomed.
SC: And your thoughts on his approach given the past rape allegations brought against him?
LT (blinking): I'd suggest talking to Stevens about that.
SC: Oh, we've tried. Our phone calls and letters have gone unanswered and we're staging a protest outside the United Center.
LT: Well, you're certainly good at staging protests, so I've heard. Next question.
Rep. 5: Allison Stone, PWI. How do you respond to Kin Hiroshi's claim that no one is gunning for anyone but you in this match?
LT: I think, and stay with me here people because what I'm about to say may shock you, there's some truth to what our young, hopeful but otherwise disillusioned Hiroshi is saying. As the World Champion and ambassador for Empire Pro I have had a continual target on my back ever since Russian Roulette last year. From Ken Cloverleaf as Dis Number Two, to Troy Windham as Dis Number Three, to Cross and now to the men in this match it's always...always...been about who's gunning for me at any particular time.
Maybe Kin was smoking some opium when he came to this earthshattering conclusion or rubbed the jewel in his Treasure Troll's belly and wished for a fleeting moment of intellectual stimulation, I don't know. He wouldn't really be too far off from Picasso if that were the case. But what I do know is that I welcome the would-be shooters who are trying to hit the bullseye. That's never even been a point of contention outside of allowing Kin to state the obvious.
AS: A follow-up question: Your march to the world title and subsequent defenses have been in one-on-one contests. How will your strategy change when you have to face five other people?
LT: One advantage I have going into this match is that it is an elimination-style contest rather than a free-for-all where the first pinfall or submission wins. In order to lose my title, I have to be eliminated. None of these flash-pins count except to throw another body out of the mix. My strategy, as it always has been, is to win at any and all costs, which is the strategy I employed when I won the title in the first place.
Rep. 6: JP from The Irish Whip, Ms. Troy. What is your response to Joey Melton's claim that he made your career?
LT: I think it's commom knowledge at this point who has revived whose career over the past three years. Joey Melton nearly snorted and drank his life away in Japan and he's gone on record to say that I was the one who brought him out of the gutter. Meanwhile, in 2003 I was still a player in A1E and I was asked to join Empire Pro in 2004 on my own merits. He won't admit it, but my managing him was the best injection his career could have ever received. As far as Joey making the career of Cameron Cruise or Kin Hiroshi, I think we all need to be reminded that he's just like a Temp Agency, where men go to get their rub and payday for a time but leave when they find something better and more permanent.
JP: What will you do if you lose the title, as Kin Hiroshi alluded to in his last taping?
LT: Very simple. (She gives a wicked grin.) I'll get it back and I won't have to go groveling and whining to Dan to get that chance.
Rep. 7: Bryan Powers, Chicago Sun-Times. It seems as if your opponents are saying the same things over and over again. How difficult do you find it to keep things new and interesting?
LT: Well, Bryan, I don't suffer from broken record syndrome for starters. I can't be held accountable for certain opponents (and I won't mention names here...Sean Stevens) having to Google-search the subtle references I make in order to understand my meaning or grab a dictionary and thesaurus to break down my vocabulary into words they can understand. I know we've got a Canadian in the match already but everyone else doesn't have that handicap.
BP: Have you spoken to Ivy McGinnis about her being mentioned repeatedly by both Joey Melton and Sean Stevens?
LT: I'm sure she's heard of what's been said, but whether or not I've talked to her about this shouldn't be a point of discussion. I'd like to keep her out of this match if at all possible.
I think I have time for one more question? (Troy looks over to Kenny, who nods.) OK, one more question. Yes, the person way, way in the back who's been waving their hand frantically. I can't really see you so you're going to have to speak up.
Rep. 8 (faintly): Yeah, Ms. Troy, I was wondering...have you eaten any muffins lately?
LT: I'm sorry, I still can't hear you.
Rep. 8 (louder): Have you eaten any muffins lately?
There's a long pause as Troy's eyebrows furrow downwards into a perplexed scowl.
LT: I'm not sure that's really topical to this press conf...hey, wait a second. I know that voice.
The entire room turns around to see James Irish and Erin Flanagan sandwiched inbetween a news station intern and a hearty-looking cameraman.
JI: Yoinks, Daphne, I think we've been spotted.
EF: Aye, lad, ya think?
James and Erin bolt for the door as security guards chase after them. Troy just shakes her head as she watches them dash out of the room.
LT: I think that's a wrap.
Fade...
Fade-in: The Drake Room of the Drake Hotel. Crystal and gold chandeliers cast an easy glow down upon the inhabitants that were scattered across the polished floor. The meeting room was abuzz with activity; men and women with lamenated press passes were testing recording devices, microphones, and flashes on their cameras. Others were scribbling into open notebooks to get the ink flowing in their pens. Roadies were doing a last-minute mic check on the room's stage. Some fans with VIP passes were milling around the back and being watched carefully by security. A podium with the Empire Pro insignia stood front and center overlooking the crowd, empty for the moment but sure to be occupied any minute now, while a banner promoting <b>Unleashed</b> hung, pinned against the gold curtain.
A commotion was raised from the side of the room, as two large double-doors were swung open to reveal the subject of the day's apparant press conference: Lindsay Troy, ever the businesswoman, wearing a sharp three-piece skirt-suit, walked into the room with a smile for the crowd. The Empire Pro World Title was folded neatly and held cradled in the crook of her arm. Kenny Lombardo briskly walked ahead of Troy to make the introductions.
KL: On behalf of Empire Pro, I'd like to thank you all for coming here this afternoon. Lindsay will be here to answer your questions for ten to fifteen minutes and will try to get to as many of you as she can. Lindsay?
Troy walked to the podium and placed the title in front of the microphones that were run through the top of the lecturn. She gave the crowd a smile as everyone started talking at once. With a calming motion of her hands, the room managed to quiet down to only a dull roar.
LT: First, let me again echo Kenny's thoughts and thank you all for coming out today. I'm glad to see a fan turnout too. (The crowd in the back marks hard!) I <b>will</b> try to get to as many questions from the press as I can before spending some time with the group in the back. So, ladies and gentlemen, please...let's begin.
With the crowd vying for her attention, she first pointed off to her right.
Rep. 1: Ms. Troy, Cheryl Shea from CBS 2 Chicago. How are you enjoying your time here and what have you been doing?
LT: Well, I've been busy...I've done a lot of promotional events and attended a charity dinner for the Cancer Society the other night. There's been the usual photo ops and sponsor meetings as well. I even went to see that guy in the whiskey sphere that's been getting a lot of press over the course of the last couple weeks.
CS: What is your response to Triple X Sean's Stevens' claim about the length of time between your promotional tapings?
LT: Well, needless to say it's been quite a while since Trip has been the champion of anything.
Laughter.
LT: I'm sure he's just forgotten what it's like to have to represent your company on a championship level. Yes, you sir, over to my left?
Rep. 2: Michael Bryant, WMVP 1000. Any insight to the whereabouts of Beast or Karl Brown?
LT: Karl, no. I haven't spoken to him since Empire Pro held its last Aggression in Salt Lake City. Last I heard Marcus was applying for menial jobs in the Winnipeg arera since he'll be out of a job after our upcoming pay-per-view: window washer, gas pumper, Yogi the Bear impersonator at children's parties. Those sorts of things.
Rep. 3: Rory Douglas, 94.7 WZZN. Do you honestly believe you'll remian professional fighting against Joey Melton, given your relationship?
LT: Ahh, I was waiting for this question. (She smirks) I won't lie to you and say that this was never a topic of conversation between Joey and I. Since I won the title fourteen months ago it's been at the back of my mind; whether I'd ever have to face my fiance and how I would approach the match should it come to pass.
I will say this: regardless of my relationship with Melton, which is no secret at this point, I will not treat him any differently than I will treat anyone else in this six-person match, nor will I treat him any differently than I would treat anyone who should contend for my title down the line. He doesn't like to play nice, and neither do I
I may wear the ring he gave me, but I plan on still wearing my title after this event is over. He'll just have to be content with only sleeping with the World Champ instead of being the World Champ.
A murmur ripples through the crowd before Troy calls on another reporter.
Rep. 4: Ms. Troy, Sharon Callahan from the National Organization of Women.
LT (with a hint of sarcasm): Oh, one of my favorite groups to talk to.
SC: ...right. What is your response to Sean Stevens' gimmick of being a sex trafficker for the new millenium?
LT: Awww Jesus, here we go... (Sighing) The pimp inferences, the *****es and whores and the objectification of female body parts makes me feel like I'm on the set of a bad rap music video with Lil John and the Yin Yang Twins. Last I heard, we didn't have a deal with the USA Network so this Triple X character isn't necessarily welcomed.
SC: And your thoughts on his approach given the past rape allegations brought against him?
LT (blinking): I'd suggest talking to Stevens about that.
SC: Oh, we've tried. Our phone calls and letters have gone unanswered and we're staging a protest outside the United Center.
LT: Well, you're certainly good at staging protests, so I've heard. Next question.
Rep. 5: Allison Stone, PWI. How do you respond to Kin Hiroshi's claim that no one is gunning for anyone but you in this match?
LT: I think, and stay with me here people because what I'm about to say may shock you, there's some truth to what our young, hopeful but otherwise disillusioned Hiroshi is saying. As the World Champion and ambassador for Empire Pro I have had a continual target on my back ever since Russian Roulette last year. From Ken Cloverleaf as Dis Number Two, to Troy Windham as Dis Number Three, to Cross and now to the men in this match it's always...always...been about who's gunning for me at any particular time.
Maybe Kin was smoking some opium when he came to this earthshattering conclusion or rubbed the jewel in his Treasure Troll's belly and wished for a fleeting moment of intellectual stimulation, I don't know. He wouldn't really be too far off from Picasso if that were the case. But what I do know is that I welcome the would-be shooters who are trying to hit the bullseye. That's never even been a point of contention outside of allowing Kin to state the obvious.
AS: A follow-up question: Your march to the world title and subsequent defenses have been in one-on-one contests. How will your strategy change when you have to face five other people?
LT: One advantage I have going into this match is that it is an elimination-style contest rather than a free-for-all where the first pinfall or submission wins. In order to lose my title, I have to be eliminated. None of these flash-pins count except to throw another body out of the mix. My strategy, as it always has been, is to win at any and all costs, which is the strategy I employed when I won the title in the first place.
Rep. 6: JP from The Irish Whip, Ms. Troy. What is your response to Joey Melton's claim that he made your career?
LT: I think it's commom knowledge at this point who has revived whose career over the past three years. Joey Melton nearly snorted and drank his life away in Japan and he's gone on record to say that I was the one who brought him out of the gutter. Meanwhile, in 2003 I was still a player in A1E and I was asked to join Empire Pro in 2004 on my own merits. He won't admit it, but my managing him was the best injection his career could have ever received. As far as Joey making the career of Cameron Cruise or Kin Hiroshi, I think we all need to be reminded that he's just like a Temp Agency, where men go to get their rub and payday for a time but leave when they find something better and more permanent.
JP: What will you do if you lose the title, as Kin Hiroshi alluded to in his last taping?
LT: Very simple. (She gives a wicked grin.) I'll get it back and I won't have to go groveling and whining to Dan to get that chance.
Rep. 7: Bryan Powers, Chicago Sun-Times. It seems as if your opponents are saying the same things over and over again. How difficult do you find it to keep things new and interesting?
LT: Well, Bryan, I don't suffer from broken record syndrome for starters. I can't be held accountable for certain opponents (and I won't mention names here...Sean Stevens) having to Google-search the subtle references I make in order to understand my meaning or grab a dictionary and thesaurus to break down my vocabulary into words they can understand. I know we've got a Canadian in the match already but everyone else doesn't have that handicap.
BP: Have you spoken to Ivy McGinnis about her being mentioned repeatedly by both Joey Melton and Sean Stevens?
LT: I'm sure she's heard of what's been said, but whether or not I've talked to her about this shouldn't be a point of discussion. I'd like to keep her out of this match if at all possible.
I think I have time for one more question? (Troy looks over to Kenny, who nods.) OK, one more question. Yes, the person way, way in the back who's been waving their hand frantically. I can't really see you so you're going to have to speak up.
Rep. 8 (faintly): Yeah, Ms. Troy, I was wondering...have you eaten any muffins lately?
LT: I'm sorry, I still can't hear you.
Rep. 8 (louder): Have you eaten any muffins lately?
There's a long pause as Troy's eyebrows furrow downwards into a perplexed scowl.
LT: I'm not sure that's really topical to this press conf...hey, wait a second. I know that voice.
The entire room turns around to see James Irish and Erin Flanagan sandwiched inbetween a news station intern and a hearty-looking cameraman.
JI: Yoinks, Daphne, I think we've been spotted.
EF: Aye, lad, ya think?
James and Erin bolt for the door as security guards chase after them. Troy just shakes her head as she watches them dash out of the room.
LT: I think that's a wrap.
Fade...
Last edited:
EpyonMarx
New member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 1,004
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Nottingham, England
- Website
- www.karl-brown.co.uk
Re: Meet the Press
[FADE IN. “The Dragon” is sitting on a hillside on a clear, sunny day. A gentle breeze causes waves in the long grass, and in the distance is a sparkling lake. It’s a picturesque scene we’ve come to recognise from the Intercontinental Champion]
Karl: You know, I’ve been trying all week to figure out what it was. There was something nagging me at the back of my mind about this match, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. No, it wasn’t the lack of mention about wrestling. I’ve come to expect people to believe their personal lives are more interesting to the majority of fans. I’ve never really cared for soap operas myself – if a wrestling fan wants a wrestling soap opera, they can go to Stamford. I’ve always prided myself on wrestling rather than being a soap star.
And that was the clue that told me what it was. I was so caught up trying to figure out what they were saying about this match, that I missed what each of the four who’ve spoken thus far has actually said. I’ve missed their perceptions on what’s important, of themselves and of each other. It’s embarrassing to say, but when I sat down and thought about it, it made perfect sense, and was so easy to figure out. It’s the misguided perceptions they each have that has been irritating me.
Yes. Kin Hiroshi, Joey Melton, Sean Stevens, and Lindsay Troy have all been speaking this week about their own delusions, trying to make themselves seem like more than they are. In the cases of Hiroshi and Stevens, and to an extent with Joey Melton, that was to be expected. But, and I’ll talk about this in a bit, I’m surprised Lindsay’s fallen into that trap.
First, though, Hiroshi. The last time I saw him across the ring from me, he ended up with a very sore neck. I must admit, he’s the one whose name surprised me when this match was announced. On the surface, he came from nowhere and into this match – the last thing of note I can remember of him was his disqualification victory over Adam Benjamin. But, thinking about it, it makes perfect sense that he’d be here. Strip away the muffin jokes, the ambiguity over his farm yard relations, and you’ve got one highly skilled wrestler. I’ve seen tapes of his from the past few years, and the closer you get to the present, you can clearly see why he’s here – he is one of the best in the Empire Pro roster at this moment in time. He’s also a very skilled thinker – if you’re not careful, his mindset can trip you up and make you think he’s worse than he really is. Yes, I know I didn’t have any real difficulty against him last time – but, looking back over that, and neither of us were as we now are. He got caught off guard on a bad day – something I doubt I’ll be fortunate enough to experience this time.
And no. I’m not convinced or taken in by the talk of him being the mid-carder. Only a fool would assume that someone that Dan Ryan puts into the main event against the World Heavyweight Champion, the number one contender, and the Intercontinental Champion wouldn’t deserve to be there. The perception of someone who thinks that is likely to lead to them being surprised and pinned quicker than you can blink.
But is he going to be walking away with the World Title? He’ll admit it won’t be easy – that his words are just there for show. But somehow, I don’t see him walking away with the title – his plan isn’t going to be enough to fool everybody in the match. And all it takes is one mistake in a match like this – all it takes is to forget that someone is behind you, and a quick roll-up can see you heading to the back, job unfinished.
Sean Stevens. A man I’ve never heard of. And for someone who claims to be that much bigger than this company, and a man whose ego suggests that he believes himself bigger than this industry, it makes one wonder something – am I naïve, or is he really not as big a deal as he makes out to be?
Oh, I know he won a battle royal. I’ve been in three myself, making it through to the finals after two of them in one night tournaments. But the thing with battle royals, is you don’t need to pin someone. I’m sure Lindsay can tell you that it’s possible to get the biggest, the strongest, and the nastiest opponents over the top rope far easier than it is to pin them or force them into a submission.
But he’s great. He’s rich, and the rest of us don’t have a chance.
[Karl laughs out loud, taking a moment to compose himself before continuing]
Karl: Is that the best you can come up with, Sean? How unoriginal. I’ve only been in this industry about two and a half years, but I’ve heard the exact same thing time and again. The man who everything he does is a plan for his own advancement and benefit – the type who, if they lost, would come up with an excuse such as ‘I let him win’ to try and save face with the fans. The egotistical guy who thinks that because of some self-perceived greatness, the fans can’t see the insecurities within. I’ve made a career thusfar of taking people like that, and exposing their heaven’s as lies. There is no one person at the top of this industry – there is no one person who is that much better than everyone else on any roster that they’re guaranteed to win whatever match they’re in. Watching tapes of you in action, I can see that you obviously believe you’re either there or very close – but there’s nothing special about you in the ring. If anything, your claims about Lindsay are even more true about you – average at best. But, you’ll probably keep believing yourself as some great being here to rid the world of the sub-par wrestlers of Empire Pro Wrestling, the ones who are in this business because it’s all they’ve got.
The same attitude I’ve seen time and time again. The same attitude I’ll see time and time again in the future. The same attitude that, whether I win the match or lose it, my opponents show signs of starting to doubt. Some, like Eric Davis, throw tantrums in the middle of the ring as their defensive walls are knocked down, leaving their insecurities out there for all the world to see. You may get lucky in this match, Sean, but you won’t have it anywhere as easy as you’d like to think. Of course, by all means believe the rest of us have no chance. It’ll simply make it easier for one of the five of us to eliminate you by pinfall or submission.
Now, before I move onto Melton and Troy, there’s someone in this match I’ve been wanting to face for most of my time in this company. Thusfar, he’s said nothing, but still, he’s worth mentioning because of how dangerous and misguided he is. The apex predator, the alpha male. Beast.
That’s what’s bothered me since I first saw him. The way he claimed to be the apex predator, the top dog. The pinnacle of this company, a position that Sean Stevens thinks he already is. Talented Beast certainly is – but as I’d travel to events, going through the airports, there was one thing that fans would ask me. When was Beast going to face me. When were Beast and I going to decide who was the better man. He and I have never had a problem with each other. We’ve never squared off. But the fans wanted to see if Beast was really the best, and the one name they could remember in Empire Pro that he had never faced, was mine. They saw what I’ve said time and again about others – calling yourself the best doesn’t mean you are. The best is really something that doesn’t exist when you think about it – there’s always luck involved. One mistake and you can be beaten – and calling yourself the best has a certain connotation of perfection. Beast’s already shown that he can be deceived – look at how Lindsay took the title from him.
It’s also completely possible for me to beat him. He leaves himself too open – like Mr Entertainment, he has a one track mind. His quest for the World Heavyweight Championship has seen him powerbomb his girlfriend through a table. It’s seen him assault a midget who was hired to poke fun at him. He’s even gone so far as to put his career on the line for one match. Whilst some would see all that as showing he has nothing to lose, it simply shows how overly focused he is. If you focus on one thing too greatly, you lose the ability to see what really matters. You lose sight of the future, in an attempt to grasp the now. That’s his biggest weakness – it leaves him far more open to mistakes than he would be otherwise. And sooner or later, one of those mistakes is going to cost him not only the match, but his career as well.
Pity.
[Karl pauses for a few seconds, staring off into the distance]
Karl: Which leaves Joey and Lindsay. Joey Melton – a man who’s seen and done far more in his career than I have. A man who knows that titles come and go. I don’t have much to say about him – he and I are very different people. Does his status as having been there and done it all mean he’s any more of a threat than anyone else in this match? Certainly not. Like I’ve said, all it takes is one slip up, especially when there are this many bodies, to get pinned. The only thing I have to seriously worry about with Joey is this – is he going to protect Lindsay from being eliminated until the final two?
Which is also something I could ask of Lindsay. She says she won’t treat Joey any differently from the rest of us – but in all honesty, there is no way she can know that. In the heat of the moment, attitudes change. Is she going to sit by and let one of the rest of us eliminate him first, second, third or fourth, without trying to intervene. Whilst she won’t treat him any differently when it’s one on one, I wonder – is she going to do so when it’s six people.
But that’s not the main thing that concerns me with Lindsay. That’s not the perception she has that worries me. It’s this notion she has of being the ambassador for this company. Yes, she’s done the interviews. She goes to the press conferences. She goes to the awards ceremonies. She represents Empire Pro Wrestling well as the mouth-piece outside of the ring. But inside? A friend of mine showed me a set of magazines the other day, and as I was looking through, I saw some tournament brackets and mentions of local independent events. HWF Natural Selection 2004 – featuring Empire Pro Wrestling’s Karl “The Dragon” Brown. HWF’s Natural Selection Summer Soltice – featuring Empire Pro Wrestling’s Karl Brown, and Lindsay Troy. TEAM Invitational Tournament, featuring, and won by, Karl “The Dragon” Brown. Fifty or sixty small independent events – featuring Empire Pro Wrestling’s Karl “The Dragon” Brown. Ask the fans of many other federations who they think when they hear Empire Pro Wrestling, from an in-ring standpoint, and it’s not Lindsay Troy they think of. It’s the person they see battling on behalf of Empire Pro against the likes of Mr Entertainment, Mind****er, Viktor Molotov. Lindsay Troy may be the face of Empire Pro as the top champion – but her name also appears in relation to other feds. As the ambassador, it certainly seems like she’s more known for her other work. Her success in other promotions, with this company being a mere footnote.
Is that an ambassador?
Yes, she’s done a lot. She’s spoken when needed. But she is not the ambassador. An ambassador maybe, but certainly far from the only one.
At the end of the day, only one person can walk away with that title. One person could be walking away with two, and one could very well be walking out of the door for the final time for a while. It’s going to be interesting to see how Unleashed plays out.
[FADE OUT]
[FADE IN. “The Dragon” is sitting on a hillside on a clear, sunny day. A gentle breeze causes waves in the long grass, and in the distance is a sparkling lake. It’s a picturesque scene we’ve come to recognise from the Intercontinental Champion]
Karl: You know, I’ve been trying all week to figure out what it was. There was something nagging me at the back of my mind about this match, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. No, it wasn’t the lack of mention about wrestling. I’ve come to expect people to believe their personal lives are more interesting to the majority of fans. I’ve never really cared for soap operas myself – if a wrestling fan wants a wrestling soap opera, they can go to Stamford. I’ve always prided myself on wrestling rather than being a soap star.
And that was the clue that told me what it was. I was so caught up trying to figure out what they were saying about this match, that I missed what each of the four who’ve spoken thus far has actually said. I’ve missed their perceptions on what’s important, of themselves and of each other. It’s embarrassing to say, but when I sat down and thought about it, it made perfect sense, and was so easy to figure out. It’s the misguided perceptions they each have that has been irritating me.
Yes. Kin Hiroshi, Joey Melton, Sean Stevens, and Lindsay Troy have all been speaking this week about their own delusions, trying to make themselves seem like more than they are. In the cases of Hiroshi and Stevens, and to an extent with Joey Melton, that was to be expected. But, and I’ll talk about this in a bit, I’m surprised Lindsay’s fallen into that trap.
First, though, Hiroshi. The last time I saw him across the ring from me, he ended up with a very sore neck. I must admit, he’s the one whose name surprised me when this match was announced. On the surface, he came from nowhere and into this match – the last thing of note I can remember of him was his disqualification victory over Adam Benjamin. But, thinking about it, it makes perfect sense that he’d be here. Strip away the muffin jokes, the ambiguity over his farm yard relations, and you’ve got one highly skilled wrestler. I’ve seen tapes of his from the past few years, and the closer you get to the present, you can clearly see why he’s here – he is one of the best in the Empire Pro roster at this moment in time. He’s also a very skilled thinker – if you’re not careful, his mindset can trip you up and make you think he’s worse than he really is. Yes, I know I didn’t have any real difficulty against him last time – but, looking back over that, and neither of us were as we now are. He got caught off guard on a bad day – something I doubt I’ll be fortunate enough to experience this time.
And no. I’m not convinced or taken in by the talk of him being the mid-carder. Only a fool would assume that someone that Dan Ryan puts into the main event against the World Heavyweight Champion, the number one contender, and the Intercontinental Champion wouldn’t deserve to be there. The perception of someone who thinks that is likely to lead to them being surprised and pinned quicker than you can blink.
But is he going to be walking away with the World Title? He’ll admit it won’t be easy – that his words are just there for show. But somehow, I don’t see him walking away with the title – his plan isn’t going to be enough to fool everybody in the match. And all it takes is one mistake in a match like this – all it takes is to forget that someone is behind you, and a quick roll-up can see you heading to the back, job unfinished.
Sean Stevens. A man I’ve never heard of. And for someone who claims to be that much bigger than this company, and a man whose ego suggests that he believes himself bigger than this industry, it makes one wonder something – am I naïve, or is he really not as big a deal as he makes out to be?
Oh, I know he won a battle royal. I’ve been in three myself, making it through to the finals after two of them in one night tournaments. But the thing with battle royals, is you don’t need to pin someone. I’m sure Lindsay can tell you that it’s possible to get the biggest, the strongest, and the nastiest opponents over the top rope far easier than it is to pin them or force them into a submission.
But he’s great. He’s rich, and the rest of us don’t have a chance.
[Karl laughs out loud, taking a moment to compose himself before continuing]
Karl: Is that the best you can come up with, Sean? How unoriginal. I’ve only been in this industry about two and a half years, but I’ve heard the exact same thing time and again. The man who everything he does is a plan for his own advancement and benefit – the type who, if they lost, would come up with an excuse such as ‘I let him win’ to try and save face with the fans. The egotistical guy who thinks that because of some self-perceived greatness, the fans can’t see the insecurities within. I’ve made a career thusfar of taking people like that, and exposing their heaven’s as lies. There is no one person at the top of this industry – there is no one person who is that much better than everyone else on any roster that they’re guaranteed to win whatever match they’re in. Watching tapes of you in action, I can see that you obviously believe you’re either there or very close – but there’s nothing special about you in the ring. If anything, your claims about Lindsay are even more true about you – average at best. But, you’ll probably keep believing yourself as some great being here to rid the world of the sub-par wrestlers of Empire Pro Wrestling, the ones who are in this business because it’s all they’ve got.
The same attitude I’ve seen time and time again. The same attitude I’ll see time and time again in the future. The same attitude that, whether I win the match or lose it, my opponents show signs of starting to doubt. Some, like Eric Davis, throw tantrums in the middle of the ring as their defensive walls are knocked down, leaving their insecurities out there for all the world to see. You may get lucky in this match, Sean, but you won’t have it anywhere as easy as you’d like to think. Of course, by all means believe the rest of us have no chance. It’ll simply make it easier for one of the five of us to eliminate you by pinfall or submission.
Now, before I move onto Melton and Troy, there’s someone in this match I’ve been wanting to face for most of my time in this company. Thusfar, he’s said nothing, but still, he’s worth mentioning because of how dangerous and misguided he is. The apex predator, the alpha male. Beast.
That’s what’s bothered me since I first saw him. The way he claimed to be the apex predator, the top dog. The pinnacle of this company, a position that Sean Stevens thinks he already is. Talented Beast certainly is – but as I’d travel to events, going through the airports, there was one thing that fans would ask me. When was Beast going to face me. When were Beast and I going to decide who was the better man. He and I have never had a problem with each other. We’ve never squared off. But the fans wanted to see if Beast was really the best, and the one name they could remember in Empire Pro that he had never faced, was mine. They saw what I’ve said time and again about others – calling yourself the best doesn’t mean you are. The best is really something that doesn’t exist when you think about it – there’s always luck involved. One mistake and you can be beaten – and calling yourself the best has a certain connotation of perfection. Beast’s already shown that he can be deceived – look at how Lindsay took the title from him.
It’s also completely possible for me to beat him. He leaves himself too open – like Mr Entertainment, he has a one track mind. His quest for the World Heavyweight Championship has seen him powerbomb his girlfriend through a table. It’s seen him assault a midget who was hired to poke fun at him. He’s even gone so far as to put his career on the line for one match. Whilst some would see all that as showing he has nothing to lose, it simply shows how overly focused he is. If you focus on one thing too greatly, you lose the ability to see what really matters. You lose sight of the future, in an attempt to grasp the now. That’s his biggest weakness – it leaves him far more open to mistakes than he would be otherwise. And sooner or later, one of those mistakes is going to cost him not only the match, but his career as well.
Pity.
[Karl pauses for a few seconds, staring off into the distance]
Karl: Which leaves Joey and Lindsay. Joey Melton – a man who’s seen and done far more in his career than I have. A man who knows that titles come and go. I don’t have much to say about him – he and I are very different people. Does his status as having been there and done it all mean he’s any more of a threat than anyone else in this match? Certainly not. Like I’ve said, all it takes is one slip up, especially when there are this many bodies, to get pinned. The only thing I have to seriously worry about with Joey is this – is he going to protect Lindsay from being eliminated until the final two?
Which is also something I could ask of Lindsay. She says she won’t treat Joey any differently from the rest of us – but in all honesty, there is no way she can know that. In the heat of the moment, attitudes change. Is she going to sit by and let one of the rest of us eliminate him first, second, third or fourth, without trying to intervene. Whilst she won’t treat him any differently when it’s one on one, I wonder – is she going to do so when it’s six people.
But that’s not the main thing that concerns me with Lindsay. That’s not the perception she has that worries me. It’s this notion she has of being the ambassador for this company. Yes, she’s done the interviews. She goes to the press conferences. She goes to the awards ceremonies. She represents Empire Pro Wrestling well as the mouth-piece outside of the ring. But inside? A friend of mine showed me a set of magazines the other day, and as I was looking through, I saw some tournament brackets and mentions of local independent events. HWF Natural Selection 2004 – featuring Empire Pro Wrestling’s Karl “The Dragon” Brown. HWF’s Natural Selection Summer Soltice – featuring Empire Pro Wrestling’s Karl Brown, and Lindsay Troy. TEAM Invitational Tournament, featuring, and won by, Karl “The Dragon” Brown. Fifty or sixty small independent events – featuring Empire Pro Wrestling’s Karl “The Dragon” Brown. Ask the fans of many other federations who they think when they hear Empire Pro Wrestling, from an in-ring standpoint, and it’s not Lindsay Troy they think of. It’s the person they see battling on behalf of Empire Pro against the likes of Mr Entertainment, Mind****er, Viktor Molotov. Lindsay Troy may be the face of Empire Pro as the top champion – but her name also appears in relation to other feds. As the ambassador, it certainly seems like she’s more known for her other work. Her success in other promotions, with this company being a mere footnote.
Is that an ambassador?
Yes, she’s done a lot. She’s spoken when needed. But she is not the ambassador. An ambassador maybe, but certainly far from the only one.
At the end of the day, only one person can walk away with that title. One person could be walking away with two, and one could very well be walking out of the door for the final time for a while. It’s going to be interesting to see how Unleashed plays out.
[FADE OUT]
jayshort
Long Live THE KING
Trip on Trip...
The scene opened with the 'blue-eyed badass' Sean Stevens standing in front of a podium before a packed room of photographers, reporters, news anchors, radio DJs, and fans. Taking a couple of steps forward, he shuffled the notecards in his hands, taking a deep breath, before swallowing extra hard.
It's no secret that Sean was one of the more laid back wrestlers, but on this day, he was dressed to perfection, in a crisp pair of black slacks, a Ralph Lauren white collared shirt, black and white tie, with a matching jacket. Stevens was a fan of facial hair, so customarily, he'd sport three days worth of new growth on his face and chin ... not today. Today, he looked like a boy scout in the truest essence. His face was as clean as a baby's bottom, his hair was pony-tailed neatly ... carefully ... with zero wisps hanging out, and his sideburns were trimmed just above his ears.
Sean approached the podium to stunned silence. His attorney, Milton Ware, of 'Milton Ware & Associates' - a thin, fairly light skinned African American, with thin rimmed 'Versace' glasses, and a thick briefcase stood directly to his right.
stevens - "Ladies and Gentlemen of the press. ...I thank you for your attendance," Stevens began, taking the occasional glance down at his notes. "Yesterday, May 12th, 2006, there were some startling allegations brought to light about myself, and an incident I had the misfortune of being involved in almost two years ago. Sharon Callahan of the 'National Organization of Women', attended a press conference held by that bit--"
Milton elbowed Stevens in the gut, slightly. The majority of the media barely noticed.
Sean coughed, "Excuse me," he took a sip from a glass of water placed on the podium. "Ms. Callahan attended a press conference held by Empire Pro Wrestling's World Heavyweight Champion, Lindsay Troy. And, while I can't go into all the specifics, my lawyer, Mr. Ware and I felt it necessary to make the following statement in defense of myself."
He continued, "According to a nine-year study conducted by former Purdue sociologist Eugene J. Kanin, in over 40 percent of the rape cases reviewed, the complainants eventually admitted that no rape had occurred. Kanin also studied rape allegations in two large Midwestern universities and found that 50 percent of the allegations were recanted by the accuser. Kanin found that most of the false accusers were motivated by a need for an alibi or a desire for revenge."
The media in attendance began to mumble.
"I am a man of justice, and in no way would I ever support such a cruel and careless crime. If I were to ever commit something so evil, so cruel, I'd definitely turn myself in because my conscience wouldn't allow me to live with myself. My case never went to court because it was settled privately, after the accuser realized that there was no evidence of any wrong doing on my behalf. This is a free country, but If Ms. Callahan wants to speak so recklessly, with no regard for my safety and well being, she should understand that there will be legal ramifications that she'll have to adhere to. And, because it was an Empire Pro sponsored event, so would Dan Ryan and the ownership team.
"Thank you and have a wonderful day."
Applause. Sean organized his cards and glanced up at the cameras, flashing the trademark smile that had won over so many hearts in the past as he exited stage left with his lawyer two steps behind him.
The scene opened with the 'blue-eyed badass' Sean Stevens standing in front of a podium before a packed room of photographers, reporters, news anchors, radio DJs, and fans. Taking a couple of steps forward, he shuffled the notecards in his hands, taking a deep breath, before swallowing extra hard.
It's no secret that Sean was one of the more laid back wrestlers, but on this day, he was dressed to perfection, in a crisp pair of black slacks, a Ralph Lauren white collared shirt, black and white tie, with a matching jacket. Stevens was a fan of facial hair, so customarily, he'd sport three days worth of new growth on his face and chin ... not today. Today, he looked like a boy scout in the truest essence. His face was as clean as a baby's bottom, his hair was pony-tailed neatly ... carefully ... with zero wisps hanging out, and his sideburns were trimmed just above his ears.
Sean approached the podium to stunned silence. His attorney, Milton Ware, of 'Milton Ware & Associates' - a thin, fairly light skinned African American, with thin rimmed 'Versace' glasses, and a thick briefcase stood directly to his right.
stevens - "Ladies and Gentlemen of the press. ...I thank you for your attendance," Stevens began, taking the occasional glance down at his notes. "Yesterday, May 12th, 2006, there were some startling allegations brought to light about myself, and an incident I had the misfortune of being involved in almost two years ago. Sharon Callahan of the 'National Organization of Women', attended a press conference held by that bit--"
Milton elbowed Stevens in the gut, slightly. The majority of the media barely noticed.
Sean coughed, "Excuse me," he took a sip from a glass of water placed on the podium. "Ms. Callahan attended a press conference held by Empire Pro Wrestling's World Heavyweight Champion, Lindsay Troy. And, while I can't go into all the specifics, my lawyer, Mr. Ware and I felt it necessary to make the following statement in defense of myself."
He continued, "According to a nine-year study conducted by former Purdue sociologist Eugene J. Kanin, in over 40 percent of the rape cases reviewed, the complainants eventually admitted that no rape had occurred. Kanin also studied rape allegations in two large Midwestern universities and found that 50 percent of the allegations were recanted by the accuser. Kanin found that most of the false accusers were motivated by a need for an alibi or a desire for revenge."
The media in attendance began to mumble.
"I am a man of justice, and in no way would I ever support such a cruel and careless crime. If I were to ever commit something so evil, so cruel, I'd definitely turn myself in because my conscience wouldn't allow me to live with myself. My case never went to court because it was settled privately, after the accuser realized that there was no evidence of any wrong doing on my behalf. This is a free country, but If Ms. Callahan wants to speak so recklessly, with no regard for my safety and well being, she should understand that there will be legal ramifications that she'll have to adhere to. And, because it was an Empire Pro sponsored event, so would Dan Ryan and the ownership team.
"Thank you and have a wonderful day."
Applause. Sean organized his cards and glanced up at the cameras, flashing the trademark smile that had won over so many hearts in the past as he exited stage left with his lawyer two steps behind him.
Last edited:
QueenOfTheRing
AKA Mom
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,625
- Points
- 36
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush...
"I see the Dragon has come out of his cave."
"I do like how you saved the best for last, though. But you should know that I don't just speak when I need to speak."
"I just do, regardless."
Yep, it's her again. Are you sick of her yet?
Don't answer that.
Troy stands amidst the set of "An Affair of Honor", playing at the Viaduct Theater. The House is empty, the curtain risen to allow her free roam of the stage. Off to the side, in a silver stand, rests two rapiers. She lifts one, whose handle is in the shape of a crown, from its sheath. Even though the blade is a prop, Troy still weighs it in her hand before smiling to herself.
"Are we to do this again, Karl? You and I, as it was one summer ago? Put into a match where there are no friends, only a gaggle of competitors who want one thing above all else: a raise of their hand to signal victory?"
"If we are, I expected more than this."
"Perhaps you can communicate better with the trees and the grass and the rocks and the air than you can with other people. This doesn't come as a surprise; inanimate objects don't require you to be on the road the majority of the year, don't ask you to put your body on the line even though it is your choice to make, don't ask for anything else other than to exist in your world; the world built up and destroyed by man."
"In the world that we live in and in the business we've created we are each given a job that we have to do. My job, as it has been each time I am asked to perform it, is to defend my title at whatever venue Dan Ryan sees fit. An extension of that job, my need and will to perform it as ardently as I do, is to retain my title upon completion of my job."
"Is it really as simple as that?"
"I don't expect you to understand the inner workings of my mind going into this match, Karl, which is why you're so quick to write me off when I say that I won't treat Joey any differently than I would treat you or any other."
"After all, you're quite the anti-social type and don't have what I like to call ... 'people skills.'"
"I know myself better than you, Karl. That's how I can differentiate between things better than you think I could. For all your overanalytical, roundabout and dizzying babble...the answer is as plain as the nose on your face. It doesn't matter if the match is one-on-one, six-on-one, a battle royal, a lethal lottery, a partridge in a pair tree."
"In the ring, it's nothing but business."
"The best part about this, Karl, is that as long as I'm still a factor in this match it doesn't matter if Joey, or you, or anyone else is. If Joey's gone, he becomes a non-issue as far as holding my title is concerned."
"I was not recognized this past year at the ENN awards for my accomplishments in other companies. I was recognized for my accomplishments in one company and one company only."
"This one."
"And I will go on record, right now, as saying that if I did not accomplish what no other woman on this circuit was able to, I would not have garnered the accolades that I have."
"Wrestler of the Year?"
"Wouldn't have happened."
"And I say this, not to be pessimistic, but to remind you and everyone else just how great of an impact my winning this company's world title has had, and will continue to have, on this sport."
"Inside the ring, Karl, I am known as the CHAIRwoman; the Sovereign of the Scaffold; the original Dis."
"But most importantly...I am known as the world champion."
"And there's no magazine on earth that could discredit that."
Fade...
"I see the Dragon has come out of his cave."
"I do like how you saved the best for last, though. But you should know that I don't just speak when I need to speak."
"I just do, regardless."
Yep, it's her again. Are you sick of her yet?
Don't answer that.
Troy stands amidst the set of "An Affair of Honor", playing at the Viaduct Theater. The House is empty, the curtain risen to allow her free roam of the stage. Off to the side, in a silver stand, rests two rapiers. She lifts one, whose handle is in the shape of a crown, from its sheath. Even though the blade is a prop, Troy still weighs it in her hand before smiling to herself.
"Are we to do this again, Karl? You and I, as it was one summer ago? Put into a match where there are no friends, only a gaggle of competitors who want one thing above all else: a raise of their hand to signal victory?"
"If we are, I expected more than this."
"Perhaps you can communicate better with the trees and the grass and the rocks and the air than you can with other people. This doesn't come as a surprise; inanimate objects don't require you to be on the road the majority of the year, don't ask you to put your body on the line even though it is your choice to make, don't ask for anything else other than to exist in your world; the world built up and destroyed by man."
"In the world that we live in and in the business we've created we are each given a job that we have to do. My job, as it has been each time I am asked to perform it, is to defend my title at whatever venue Dan Ryan sees fit. An extension of that job, my need and will to perform it as ardently as I do, is to retain my title upon completion of my job."
"Is it really as simple as that?"
"I don't expect you to understand the inner workings of my mind going into this match, Karl, which is why you're so quick to write me off when I say that I won't treat Joey any differently than I would treat you or any other."
"After all, you're quite the anti-social type and don't have what I like to call ... 'people skills.'"
"I know myself better than you, Karl. That's how I can differentiate between things better than you think I could. For all your overanalytical, roundabout and dizzying babble...the answer is as plain as the nose on your face. It doesn't matter if the match is one-on-one, six-on-one, a battle royal, a lethal lottery, a partridge in a pair tree."
"In the ring, it's nothing but business."
"The best part about this, Karl, is that as long as I'm still a factor in this match it doesn't matter if Joey, or you, or anyone else is. If Joey's gone, he becomes a non-issue as far as holding my title is concerned."
"I was not recognized this past year at the ENN awards for my accomplishments in other companies. I was recognized for my accomplishments in one company and one company only."
"This one."
"And I will go on record, right now, as saying that if I did not accomplish what no other woman on this circuit was able to, I would not have garnered the accolades that I have."
"Wrestler of the Year?"
"Wouldn't have happened."
"And I say this, not to be pessimistic, but to remind you and everyone else just how great of an impact my winning this company's world title has had, and will continue to have, on this sport."
"Inside the ring, Karl, I am known as the CHAIRwoman; the Sovereign of the Scaffold; the original Dis."
"But most importantly...I am known as the world champion."
"And there's no magazine on earth that could discredit that."
Fade...
EpyonMarx
New member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 1,004
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Nottingham, England
- Website
- www.karl-brown.co.uk
Re: Here we go 'round the mulberry bush...
[FADE IN. A quiet pub. Sitting at a table is the UK-based wrestling writer Matt Matteson, and opposite him is “The Dragon”. From the jukebox, you can faintly hear Lordi’s “Would You Love A Monsterman?”]
MM: Thanks for coming to see me, Karl. Been a while since you gave me an interview.
Karl: Glad I could find the time.
MM: Why’s that?
Karl: Just some things I’ve needed to take care of, nothing overly important.
MM: Ah, ok. Well, first of all, congratulations on winning the TEAM invitational.
Karl: Thanks.
MM: How did it feel to wrestle in that?
Karl: It was a lot of fun, and a good learning curve. I’ve never been one to sign up to lots of feds on a full-time basis, so I got to wrestle, all told I think it was four people I’ve never had the chance to face before. Only one who I’d had the chance against was Shane, so I knew more what to expect from him, but against the rest it was tough. I’d definitely put Mr Entertainment and Viktor Molotov up there with my early matches with Christian Sands and Maelstrom in terms of difficulty.
MM: Those two matches certainly got a lot of attention.
Karl: I’m glad. Working against both of them was a challenge. Mr Entertainment’s the first person who has a style that is very similar to mine if you strip it down, and he was hungry to prove himself, and New ERA, against someone from what I know a lot of the dirtsheets are calling the ‘big-boy’ promotions. As for Viktor, he’s a tough guy to out-grapple. I was glad that I was able to hang on as long as I did against him.
MM: And how did it feel to win the trophy?
Karl: It took a lot of time to sink in. At first I was just glad that I’d been able to beat Molotov. It wasn’t really until I was sitting at home and I noticed the trophy sitting on the dining room table that I realised that I’d gone through a very strong field and come away with the victory. I’d known I’d do well when the tournament started, but I was realistic and thought maybe a top eight finish, maybe just about the semi-finals. Making the final and then winning the whole thing were just the icing on the cake so to speak.
MM: Would you put it up there with the proudest moments in your career?
Karl: I can’t say I’ve thought about it like that. I know people will look back in the future and say that it was certainly a good moment for me, but one of the ones I’m proudest of, I can’t really say. I won’t know that until my career is over.
MM: Sure. Moving on, you’ve got a match at Unleashed for the World Title in EPW. You gave some thoughts on that recently, but is there anything in general about it you want to say before we move on to more specific things?
Karl: Not really. I’m not going to be taking anyone lightly in this match, but I’m realistic enough to know that chances are against me winning, as they are for anyone in this match. I looked at the rates being offered, and there’s not a lot between them, which shows how close this match is going to be.
MM: Right. Now, about Lindsay. She’s been suggesting recently, not only in EPW but also elsewhere, that you spend too much time with the trees, rocks, rivers, what have you, and aren’t that sociable a person.
Karl: [laughing] I’ve never claimed to be the most sociable person. I saw that press conference, and yes, we haven’t spoken in a couple of months, but if she cares that much about talking to me, she has my number. As for my personal life, I don’t mix that with my professional life. Wrestling and my private life are two quite different things, and unlike a lot of the people in this industry, I keep them pretty separate. You’ve got to remember that when I tape something, it’s done in one take and might take all told an hour of my time. That’s sixty minutes out of the ten thousand and forty there are in a week. TV tapings take up some time, sure, but the majority of my time isn’t seen by them. Yes, I spend a lot of time outside – because I enjoy sitting outside thinking. It’s a great way to get to know yourself, and to work out any problems. I’ve never been the life and soul of the party, nor will I ever claim to have been, but it works out well for me. Unlike her, I don’t have the need to let everyone know about my private life, or how I get to events, or whatever. So long as I turn up at an arena in the right state of mind, and so long as I go out there and do my job, which is to give it my all each and every match, then my private life doesn’t need to be mentioned.
MM: OK. What about you not having people skills?
Karl: Like I said, if she wants to call me, she’s got my number. I’m happy to talk to anyone if they want to talk to me – fans at an airport or service-station, reporters, friends, whoever. Just because she doesn’t see me in a private capacity most of the time doesn’t mean I don’t have people skills – I just don’t go whoring my private life out as much as some people in this industry. To be perfectly blunt, what’s the point in trying to have a private life if you’re just going to display it on tape for the world to see? All she needs to know about me professionally is that I go out there and give it my all every match. If she wants to know anything about me privately, she’s more than welcome to ask me the next time she sees me. People skills are a lot more than just letting a camera into your home or going out and seeking people to talk to – if someone wants to talk to me in the locker-room or wherever, I’m not hard to find. If they don’t want to talk to me, I’m not going to force the issue.
MM: Gothca. Now, about her claims about Joey Melton…
Karl: Yeah, I saw. She claims that I’ve missed the point when she says that she’s not going to treat him any differently when the bell rings – yet, she’s missed the point I was making. Can she one hundred per cent guarantee that if I or Beast or Hiroshi or Stevens were covering Melton or had him in a submission he couldn’t get out of that she wouldn’t come over and break it up? One thing I’ve always found interesting is the way the human subconscious works – no-one knows. Can she say that when she’s mere feet away from him and he’s screaming in pain that part of her won’t take sympathy on him and try to help him? Can she state unequivocally that no part of her will want to step in to keep him in the match? When it’s the two of them, I’ve no doubt she’ll be professional and give it one hundred per cent against him. Until then, when there are three, four, five or six of us? It’ll be interesting to see, and she may very well keep to her word, but until after the match has taken place, we won’t know.
MM: So you’re saying not that she will help Joey, but that she might?
Karl: Yep. She doesn’t know that she won’t. I don’t know that she will. Nothing is certain until after the event.
MM: What about the sun rising tomorrow?
Karl: How do we know it will?
MM: Because it always has.
Karl: It doesn’t follow that it always will. There are no definites in life, only possibilities.
MM: O…k… I think I see where you’re coming from. I wanted to ask your opinion on how Lindsay’s perceived.
Karl: Outside of EPW, I’m sure you’re better than I am at that.
MM: Well, I can give you a couple of points. I know she’s still regarded more as A1E than she is Empire Pro, and that her fWo and NFW career’s are more written about that her time in EPW. Any idea why that might be?
Karl: Not really. I’m not a journalist, I just read the dirtsheets sometimes. I know what I read – EPW is rarely the first federation that’s mentioned in reference to her. NFW, fWo, A1E – it seems to me more like she’s the ambassador for Lindsay Troy first, Empire Pro second if it’s an EPW organised event. If it’s not an EPW event, then chances are we’re not even mentioned – and as the ambassador that she claims to be, one would think that the focus would always be on her and Empire Pro Wrestling, even when she was working elsewhere. At least that’s how I see it – it’s probably one of those things she and I will have to agree to disagree on.
MM: I did hear one interesting rumour going round the internet recently about that, if you want to hear it.
Karl: Sure.
MM: The reason EPW’s not mentioned so much around her outside of EPW is because you keep getting pre-empted on TV and she doesn’t want it to look bad on her, being the champion and all.
Karl: [laughing] That’s a new one on me.
MM: Well, it does make sense. Since she won the title she’s had one televised defence, against Cross, and the rest of the time she’s been busy with tag-team matches or segments to promote something. Someone on one of these websites went so far as to say that the sole reason EPW events are getting pre-empted so much is because of Lindsay – maybe she’s not been such a good ambassador for the company as, say, Christian Sands or Beast were?
Karl: I’ll leave that kind of speculation to you. I won’t comment on it.
MM: What about her claims that her accolades are because of her work in one company alone?
Karl: Well, seeing as how much of the industry voted her into those positions and the fact that Empire Pro isn’t on TV as much as I think it should be, for whatever reason, it wouldn’t surprise me if her work in the other feds she operates contributed to that success as well. I doubt my nomination for most improved was solely for my winning the Intercontinental Championship – I’m pretty sure my Natural Selection and TEAM appearances helped there, so I doubt she got her awards and accolades solely for working in one place. If she wants to check unequivocally, then the best way for her to go about it would be to work solely for Empire Pro and see if she can emulate her success the next time round. In anything, it’s not always the best that get noticed, but the ones that are seen the most.
MM: OK. Now, she keeps mentioning that she’s the only woman to have achieved those accolades. Anything to say about that?
Karl: Only that I couldn’t really care what her gender is. It makes it no more of an achievement that she’s the world champion. Her being a woman, in my mind, makes no difference. Her achievements are those of a professional wrestler. If she thinks she can impress me by going on and on like a stuck record about being the only woman to do this or to do that, then I gave her intelligence too much credit. In this industry, it’s not about being the fastest, strongest, or most technically sound wrestler. If it were about pure technical skill, Viktor Molotov would have won the TEAM invitational. If it were purely about strength, Beast would still be EPW World Heavyweight Champion. There’s a lot more to wrestling than strength and skill, which is why it’s a very even field. No matter your gender, race, mental ability, whatever – it’s the combination of factors that counts. When I see her across the ring from me, I see an opponent. That’s all that matters when the bell rings – me doing my job and wrestling my opponent.
MM: OK. Now, one final question – do you see yourself winning the match?
Karl: I don’t go into any match thinking that I’m definitely going to win. I go in there knowing I’ll give it my all, and that’s it. I’m realistic enough to know that wins happen, and that losses happen. If I win the match, that’s nice. If I lose, I don’t really care. It’s not the titles or the victories that matter to me when I’m heading down to the ring – it’s giving it my all and taking everything the other person can give, in any type of match that I’m paid to wrestle. In my thirty-something month career, I’ve lost matches and I’ve won matches, and very rarely have I cared which way it went – I’ve always given it my best shot. If you go into the ring with any preconceptions or ideas that you are going to win, or something is going to happen, then you leave yourself open to mistakes. You often see people embarrassed in wrestling because they’ve gone in claiming it’ll be a walk in the park, and they’ve been defeated easily by someone no-one thought had a chance. I won’t let myself picture myself winning the match until the bell has sounded at the end, and the referee has given the belt to the winner. If I don’t win, I’m sure I’ll get other opportunities. The title may be some big mystically important thing to some people, but not to me.
MM: Great. Thanks for that Karl, and good luck at Unleashed.
Karl: Thanks.
[Matt Matteson stands and walks away from the table. Karl just sits there, seemingly losing himself in a thought or two. After several seconds, the camera pans round to show him face on, eyes closed. After a few more seconds, he speaks]
Karl: Six people in one match. No-one I guaranteed a victory until the bell sounds at the end. All are equal until they’re eliminated. I will say this, Lindsay – you’ve as much a chance of winning this match as the rest of us, but you’ve also as much a chance of being the first or second eliminated.
[He opens his eyes, showing a deathly seriousness we haven’t seen in a long time]
Karl: Going in, you’re the champion – but once that bell rings, there is no champion until the referee hands one of us the belt at the end. All the words, all the press-conferences – as you know they mean nothing when the bell rings. All that matters is what happens in the ring. That is where the fans get to see their ambassadors fight.
That is where our paths are decided for us.
That is where you have to prove you’re still worthy of holding that belt.
Will you manage it? Only time will tell.
[FADE OUT]
---------
---------
EDIT: missed a tag.
[FADE IN. A quiet pub. Sitting at a table is the UK-based wrestling writer Matt Matteson, and opposite him is “The Dragon”. From the jukebox, you can faintly hear Lordi’s “Would You Love A Monsterman?”]
MM: Thanks for coming to see me, Karl. Been a while since you gave me an interview.
Karl: Glad I could find the time.
MM: Why’s that?
Karl: Just some things I’ve needed to take care of, nothing overly important.
MM: Ah, ok. Well, first of all, congratulations on winning the TEAM invitational.
Karl: Thanks.
MM: How did it feel to wrestle in that?
Karl: It was a lot of fun, and a good learning curve. I’ve never been one to sign up to lots of feds on a full-time basis, so I got to wrestle, all told I think it was four people I’ve never had the chance to face before. Only one who I’d had the chance against was Shane, so I knew more what to expect from him, but against the rest it was tough. I’d definitely put Mr Entertainment and Viktor Molotov up there with my early matches with Christian Sands and Maelstrom in terms of difficulty.
MM: Those two matches certainly got a lot of attention.
Karl: I’m glad. Working against both of them was a challenge. Mr Entertainment’s the first person who has a style that is very similar to mine if you strip it down, and he was hungry to prove himself, and New ERA, against someone from what I know a lot of the dirtsheets are calling the ‘big-boy’ promotions. As for Viktor, he’s a tough guy to out-grapple. I was glad that I was able to hang on as long as I did against him.
MM: And how did it feel to win the trophy?
Karl: It took a lot of time to sink in. At first I was just glad that I’d been able to beat Molotov. It wasn’t really until I was sitting at home and I noticed the trophy sitting on the dining room table that I realised that I’d gone through a very strong field and come away with the victory. I’d known I’d do well when the tournament started, but I was realistic and thought maybe a top eight finish, maybe just about the semi-finals. Making the final and then winning the whole thing were just the icing on the cake so to speak.
MM: Would you put it up there with the proudest moments in your career?
Karl: I can’t say I’ve thought about it like that. I know people will look back in the future and say that it was certainly a good moment for me, but one of the ones I’m proudest of, I can’t really say. I won’t know that until my career is over.
MM: Sure. Moving on, you’ve got a match at Unleashed for the World Title in EPW. You gave some thoughts on that recently, but is there anything in general about it you want to say before we move on to more specific things?
Karl: Not really. I’m not going to be taking anyone lightly in this match, but I’m realistic enough to know that chances are against me winning, as they are for anyone in this match. I looked at the rates being offered, and there’s not a lot between them, which shows how close this match is going to be.
MM: Right. Now, about Lindsay. She’s been suggesting recently, not only in EPW but also elsewhere, that you spend too much time with the trees, rocks, rivers, what have you, and aren’t that sociable a person.
Karl: [laughing] I’ve never claimed to be the most sociable person. I saw that press conference, and yes, we haven’t spoken in a couple of months, but if she cares that much about talking to me, she has my number. As for my personal life, I don’t mix that with my professional life. Wrestling and my private life are two quite different things, and unlike a lot of the people in this industry, I keep them pretty separate. You’ve got to remember that when I tape something, it’s done in one take and might take all told an hour of my time. That’s sixty minutes out of the ten thousand and forty there are in a week. TV tapings take up some time, sure, but the majority of my time isn’t seen by them. Yes, I spend a lot of time outside – because I enjoy sitting outside thinking. It’s a great way to get to know yourself, and to work out any problems. I’ve never been the life and soul of the party, nor will I ever claim to have been, but it works out well for me. Unlike her, I don’t have the need to let everyone know about my private life, or how I get to events, or whatever. So long as I turn up at an arena in the right state of mind, and so long as I go out there and do my job, which is to give it my all each and every match, then my private life doesn’t need to be mentioned.
MM: OK. What about you not having people skills?
Karl: Like I said, if she wants to call me, she’s got my number. I’m happy to talk to anyone if they want to talk to me – fans at an airport or service-station, reporters, friends, whoever. Just because she doesn’t see me in a private capacity most of the time doesn’t mean I don’t have people skills – I just don’t go whoring my private life out as much as some people in this industry. To be perfectly blunt, what’s the point in trying to have a private life if you’re just going to display it on tape for the world to see? All she needs to know about me professionally is that I go out there and give it my all every match. If she wants to know anything about me privately, she’s more than welcome to ask me the next time she sees me. People skills are a lot more than just letting a camera into your home or going out and seeking people to talk to – if someone wants to talk to me in the locker-room or wherever, I’m not hard to find. If they don’t want to talk to me, I’m not going to force the issue.
MM: Gothca. Now, about her claims about Joey Melton…
Karl: Yeah, I saw. She claims that I’ve missed the point when she says that she’s not going to treat him any differently when the bell rings – yet, she’s missed the point I was making. Can she one hundred per cent guarantee that if I or Beast or Hiroshi or Stevens were covering Melton or had him in a submission he couldn’t get out of that she wouldn’t come over and break it up? One thing I’ve always found interesting is the way the human subconscious works – no-one knows. Can she say that when she’s mere feet away from him and he’s screaming in pain that part of her won’t take sympathy on him and try to help him? Can she state unequivocally that no part of her will want to step in to keep him in the match? When it’s the two of them, I’ve no doubt she’ll be professional and give it one hundred per cent against him. Until then, when there are three, four, five or six of us? It’ll be interesting to see, and she may very well keep to her word, but until after the match has taken place, we won’t know.
MM: So you’re saying not that she will help Joey, but that she might?
Karl: Yep. She doesn’t know that she won’t. I don’t know that she will. Nothing is certain until after the event.
MM: What about the sun rising tomorrow?
Karl: How do we know it will?
MM: Because it always has.
Karl: It doesn’t follow that it always will. There are no definites in life, only possibilities.
MM: O…k… I think I see where you’re coming from. I wanted to ask your opinion on how Lindsay’s perceived.
Karl: Outside of EPW, I’m sure you’re better than I am at that.
MM: Well, I can give you a couple of points. I know she’s still regarded more as A1E than she is Empire Pro, and that her fWo and NFW career’s are more written about that her time in EPW. Any idea why that might be?
Karl: Not really. I’m not a journalist, I just read the dirtsheets sometimes. I know what I read – EPW is rarely the first federation that’s mentioned in reference to her. NFW, fWo, A1E – it seems to me more like she’s the ambassador for Lindsay Troy first, Empire Pro second if it’s an EPW organised event. If it’s not an EPW event, then chances are we’re not even mentioned – and as the ambassador that she claims to be, one would think that the focus would always be on her and Empire Pro Wrestling, even when she was working elsewhere. At least that’s how I see it – it’s probably one of those things she and I will have to agree to disagree on.
MM: I did hear one interesting rumour going round the internet recently about that, if you want to hear it.
Karl: Sure.
MM: The reason EPW’s not mentioned so much around her outside of EPW is because you keep getting pre-empted on TV and she doesn’t want it to look bad on her, being the champion and all.
Karl: [laughing] That’s a new one on me.
MM: Well, it does make sense. Since she won the title she’s had one televised defence, against Cross, and the rest of the time she’s been busy with tag-team matches or segments to promote something. Someone on one of these websites went so far as to say that the sole reason EPW events are getting pre-empted so much is because of Lindsay – maybe she’s not been such a good ambassador for the company as, say, Christian Sands or Beast were?
Karl: I’ll leave that kind of speculation to you. I won’t comment on it.
MM: What about her claims that her accolades are because of her work in one company alone?
Karl: Well, seeing as how much of the industry voted her into those positions and the fact that Empire Pro isn’t on TV as much as I think it should be, for whatever reason, it wouldn’t surprise me if her work in the other feds she operates contributed to that success as well. I doubt my nomination for most improved was solely for my winning the Intercontinental Championship – I’m pretty sure my Natural Selection and TEAM appearances helped there, so I doubt she got her awards and accolades solely for working in one place. If she wants to check unequivocally, then the best way for her to go about it would be to work solely for Empire Pro and see if she can emulate her success the next time round. In anything, it’s not always the best that get noticed, but the ones that are seen the most.
MM: OK. Now, she keeps mentioning that she’s the only woman to have achieved those accolades. Anything to say about that?
Karl: Only that I couldn’t really care what her gender is. It makes it no more of an achievement that she’s the world champion. Her being a woman, in my mind, makes no difference. Her achievements are those of a professional wrestler. If she thinks she can impress me by going on and on like a stuck record about being the only woman to do this or to do that, then I gave her intelligence too much credit. In this industry, it’s not about being the fastest, strongest, or most technically sound wrestler. If it were about pure technical skill, Viktor Molotov would have won the TEAM invitational. If it were purely about strength, Beast would still be EPW World Heavyweight Champion. There’s a lot more to wrestling than strength and skill, which is why it’s a very even field. No matter your gender, race, mental ability, whatever – it’s the combination of factors that counts. When I see her across the ring from me, I see an opponent. That’s all that matters when the bell rings – me doing my job and wrestling my opponent.
MM: OK. Now, one final question – do you see yourself winning the match?
Karl: I don’t go into any match thinking that I’m definitely going to win. I go in there knowing I’ll give it my all, and that’s it. I’m realistic enough to know that wins happen, and that losses happen. If I win the match, that’s nice. If I lose, I don’t really care. It’s not the titles or the victories that matter to me when I’m heading down to the ring – it’s giving it my all and taking everything the other person can give, in any type of match that I’m paid to wrestle. In my thirty-something month career, I’ve lost matches and I’ve won matches, and very rarely have I cared which way it went – I’ve always given it my best shot. If you go into the ring with any preconceptions or ideas that you are going to win, or something is going to happen, then you leave yourself open to mistakes. You often see people embarrassed in wrestling because they’ve gone in claiming it’ll be a walk in the park, and they’ve been defeated easily by someone no-one thought had a chance. I won’t let myself picture myself winning the match until the bell has sounded at the end, and the referee has given the belt to the winner. If I don’t win, I’m sure I’ll get other opportunities. The title may be some big mystically important thing to some people, but not to me.
MM: Great. Thanks for that Karl, and good luck at Unleashed.
Karl: Thanks.
[Matt Matteson stands and walks away from the table. Karl just sits there, seemingly losing himself in a thought or two. After several seconds, the camera pans round to show him face on, eyes closed. After a few more seconds, he speaks]
Karl: Six people in one match. No-one I guaranteed a victory until the bell sounds at the end. All are equal until they’re eliminated. I will say this, Lindsay – you’ve as much a chance of winning this match as the rest of us, but you’ve also as much a chance of being the first or second eliminated.
[He opens his eyes, showing a deathly seriousness we haven’t seen in a long time]
Karl: Going in, you’re the champion – but once that bell rings, there is no champion until the referee hands one of us the belt at the end. All the words, all the press-conferences – as you know they mean nothing when the bell rings. All that matters is what happens in the ring. That is where the fans get to see their ambassadors fight.
That is where our paths are decided for us.
That is where you have to prove you’re still worthy of holding that belt.
Will you manage it? Only time will tell.
[FADE OUT]
---------
---------
EDIT: missed a tag.
Last edited:
jayshort
Long Live THE KING
Re: UNLEASHED: Troy vs. Melton vs. Brown vs. Beast vs. Stevens vs. Hiroshi - World Title
"You wanna talk unoriginal, Karl?"
fade-in:
Trip leaned up against a red brick wall, outside of an unmarked building clad in workout apparell consisting of taped fists, laced boots, wrestling tights and a sleeveless 'Blue-eyed Badass' tee. It was a very dark night, a little cold due to the heavy rain, that could be heard in the background. Thankfully, Stevens stood underneath outside roofing that protected him from getting wet. He lit a cigarette, took a long drag, before blowing the smoke out of his nose and continuing.
triple X -"Let me give you a clear definition of unoriginal. Unoriginal is coming out on national television, staging a press conference, doing your absolute best to paint a picture of your favorite 'blue-eyed badass' as no threat ... as an idiot. ...as a guy who hasn't been a champion in a long time, as a guy who won't be a champion for a long time, only to turn around in a tournament of champions and tell someone that you'd stick your foot so far up your opponent's ass, that your toes would tickle their prostate...
"...after hearing me say the exact same thing a year earlier."
Sprinkles from the rain caused him to become a little damp. You, the viewer could barely tell, but it caused for a little discomfort on his part. Ever the professional, he continued un-bothered.
"But, there I go again commiting that big, unwritten no-no, right, Ms. Troy? Screw the fact that, despite your blatant form of infringement being done elsewhere, you now look like the biggest walking contradiction outside of Joey Melton - I now see why you two fit so well. To hell with all the little girls at home, who follow you around, worshipping the ground you walk on thinking you were clever enough to come up with your own material. Screw the rules. They just don't apply to Empire's cutest ... well ... oddest couple, do they?
"It's bad when you grasp at straws for things to say, because, well ... calling me a womanizer all week was all you could think of. It becomes worse when you're practically begging for help, because you realized from the very first time I opened my mouth, that maybe just maybe he's not all talk. That maybe when it's all said and done, you really can't get the job done by yourself."
The cigarette was down to the butt, he took one last drag before flicking it into the rain.
"Your comments and tactics got me to thinking, though ... either you've got a hell of a lot of study time, you're my biggest fan, or you're being coached. If it's the latter, if the rumors are true, and you've got someone whispering in your ear, telling you my life story, what buttons to push, and what should help you get the job done ... tell your coach to mind his f#cking business unlesshe has any plans on actually stepping into the ring with me himself.
"But, you'd deny it anyway, Lindz. After everything I've exposed through you and Joey this week, it's not like honesty is your strong area. But, it doesn't matter anyway because the only way the blind can lead the blind is if both participants accept the fact that at some point down the road they're either gonna be hit by a car, fall off a cliff, or walk into a tree. I represent that car, that cliff, that tree."
The camera zoomed in really close.
"I accept that there's a possibility that you're tough. Tough is sexy. I expect you to go out kicking and screaming. ...that's what women do. But, at the end of it all, when it's all said and done ... I'm still gonna win. Why? Because that's what I do.
"You think it's a coincidence that your toughest title defense to date has me in it?
"I am that damned good, and everytime the opportunity presents itself for me to prove my greatness in this sport, I rise to the occasion. It's a bit redundant ... I'm sure it gets old for everyone else. But, for me ... it's just life, plain and simple. Some people work really hard to achieve greatness, only to look on in anger as somebody who was born great surpasses them.
"I am greatness."
He beat his chest twice, proudly.
"In this business, I make federations hot. Every place I've ever competed, at some point or another was the premier promotion on the planet, and it's easy to see why. My opponents will tell me I'm trying to be something I'm not. They'll ask me stupid questions ... refer to me as a 'pimp', when I've never claimed to be anything but who I am. I don't benefit from shaky rosters, Lindsay. I'm not a champion because I was at the right place at the right time. I've faced the best, beaten the best, and in all honesty ... you're not in my top fifty.
"Keep finding annoying little ways to throw Ivy McGinnis into the mix. That's not breaking the unwritten rule, Ivy isn't some wrestler from another promotion ... she's a journalist, a very vocal journalist who writes columns about wrestlers as she sees fit. If she can write something about me, I can definitely live my life without pretending she doesn't exist, but even still ... I had no intentions of ever letting the Empire Pro audience in on the fact that I knew her favorite sexual positions. YOU exposed that. Then your boyfriend, in one of those great moments in relationship history started finishing your sentences, picking up where you left off. I won't lie, it was a nice effort, five years ago. Today, when you two do it, it's boring.
"And, don't flatter yourself into thinking your blatant use of four syllable words confuses me. It doesn't. It confuses the audience. The people who pay their money to see a wrestling match, and for me to steal the show. Newsflash, not everybody attended college. Everybody didn't get offered that Fortune 500 job like you. And, if you start boring everyone, they'll leave the venue before the main event even starts. That's not good for them, or me ... because what I do in that ring, I swear to God, it'll change lives. I'm putting it all on the table, whether it needs to be or not. I can and will do things that have never been done in a wrestling ring, and you will succumb to it.
"You had a great run as champion, a run that'll be talked about for years. You've succeeded where most have failed, you became successful in a business designed for your failure. Some wrestlers don't wrestle for fourteen months, let alone remain world champion. But, all things come to an end, and at Unleashed ... I am your trump card, and there's not a damned thing you, or anybody else can do about it.
Slowly, the camera zoomed out, leaving Stevens, unbudged, looking up at the night's sky.
fade-to-black
"You wanna talk unoriginal, Karl?"
fade-in:
Trip leaned up against a red brick wall, outside of an unmarked building clad in workout apparell consisting of taped fists, laced boots, wrestling tights and a sleeveless 'Blue-eyed Badass' tee. It was a very dark night, a little cold due to the heavy rain, that could be heard in the background. Thankfully, Stevens stood underneath outside roofing that protected him from getting wet. He lit a cigarette, took a long drag, before blowing the smoke out of his nose and continuing.
triple X -"Let me give you a clear definition of unoriginal. Unoriginal is coming out on national television, staging a press conference, doing your absolute best to paint a picture of your favorite 'blue-eyed badass' as no threat ... as an idiot. ...as a guy who hasn't been a champion in a long time, as a guy who won't be a champion for a long time, only to turn around in a tournament of champions and tell someone that you'd stick your foot so far up your opponent's ass, that your toes would tickle their prostate...
"...after hearing me say the exact same thing a year earlier."
Sprinkles from the rain caused him to become a little damp. You, the viewer could barely tell, but it caused for a little discomfort on his part. Ever the professional, he continued un-bothered.
"But, there I go again commiting that big, unwritten no-no, right, Ms. Troy? Screw the fact that, despite your blatant form of infringement being done elsewhere, you now look like the biggest walking contradiction outside of Joey Melton - I now see why you two fit so well. To hell with all the little girls at home, who follow you around, worshipping the ground you walk on thinking you were clever enough to come up with your own material. Screw the rules. They just don't apply to Empire's cutest ... well ... oddest couple, do they?
"It's bad when you grasp at straws for things to say, because, well ... calling me a womanizer all week was all you could think of. It becomes worse when you're practically begging for help, because you realized from the very first time I opened my mouth, that maybe just maybe he's not all talk. That maybe when it's all said and done, you really can't get the job done by yourself."
The cigarette was down to the butt, he took one last drag before flicking it into the rain.
"Your comments and tactics got me to thinking, though ... either you've got a hell of a lot of study time, you're my biggest fan, or you're being coached. If it's the latter, if the rumors are true, and you've got someone whispering in your ear, telling you my life story, what buttons to push, and what should help you get the job done ... tell your coach to mind his f#cking business unlesshe has any plans on actually stepping into the ring with me himself.
"But, you'd deny it anyway, Lindz. After everything I've exposed through you and Joey this week, it's not like honesty is your strong area. But, it doesn't matter anyway because the only way the blind can lead the blind is if both participants accept the fact that at some point down the road they're either gonna be hit by a car, fall off a cliff, or walk into a tree. I represent that car, that cliff, that tree."
The camera zoomed in really close.
"I accept that there's a possibility that you're tough. Tough is sexy. I expect you to go out kicking and screaming. ...that's what women do. But, at the end of it all, when it's all said and done ... I'm still gonna win. Why? Because that's what I do.
"You think it's a coincidence that your toughest title defense to date has me in it?
"I am that damned good, and everytime the opportunity presents itself for me to prove my greatness in this sport, I rise to the occasion. It's a bit redundant ... I'm sure it gets old for everyone else. But, for me ... it's just life, plain and simple. Some people work really hard to achieve greatness, only to look on in anger as somebody who was born great surpasses them.
"I am greatness."
He beat his chest twice, proudly.
"In this business, I make federations hot. Every place I've ever competed, at some point or another was the premier promotion on the planet, and it's easy to see why. My opponents will tell me I'm trying to be something I'm not. They'll ask me stupid questions ... refer to me as a 'pimp', when I've never claimed to be anything but who I am. I don't benefit from shaky rosters, Lindsay. I'm not a champion because I was at the right place at the right time. I've faced the best, beaten the best, and in all honesty ... you're not in my top fifty.
"Keep finding annoying little ways to throw Ivy McGinnis into the mix. That's not breaking the unwritten rule, Ivy isn't some wrestler from another promotion ... she's a journalist, a very vocal journalist who writes columns about wrestlers as she sees fit. If she can write something about me, I can definitely live my life without pretending she doesn't exist, but even still ... I had no intentions of ever letting the Empire Pro audience in on the fact that I knew her favorite sexual positions. YOU exposed that. Then your boyfriend, in one of those great moments in relationship history started finishing your sentences, picking up where you left off. I won't lie, it was a nice effort, five years ago. Today, when you two do it, it's boring.
"And, don't flatter yourself into thinking your blatant use of four syllable words confuses me. It doesn't. It confuses the audience. The people who pay their money to see a wrestling match, and for me to steal the show. Newsflash, not everybody attended college. Everybody didn't get offered that Fortune 500 job like you. And, if you start boring everyone, they'll leave the venue before the main event even starts. That's not good for them, or me ... because what I do in that ring, I swear to God, it'll change lives. I'm putting it all on the table, whether it needs to be or not. I can and will do things that have never been done in a wrestling ring, and you will succumb to it.
"You had a great run as champion, a run that'll be talked about for years. You've succeeded where most have failed, you became successful in a business designed for your failure. Some wrestlers don't wrestle for fourteen months, let alone remain world champion. But, all things come to an end, and at Unleashed ... I am your trump card, and there's not a damned thing you, or anybody else can do about it.
Slowly, the camera zoomed out, leaving Stevens, unbudged, looking up at the night's sky.
fade-to-black
Last edited: