Post by Christian Connolly on Nov 12, 2017 23:41:54 GMT -5
(FADEIN: The home of Christian Connolly. More specifically, the kitchen. Christian Connolly is sitting at the island with his head hung low, looking like a little kid who just got caught in the cookie jar. Standing on the other side is his mother, Karina, who looks at him disapprovingly.)
Karina: "You really need to talk to her Christian,"
The bags underneath his eyes sagged like overloaded shopping packages. However, despite his deteriorating demeanor, his temperament remained the same.
Christian: "What the fuck? What am I supposed to say to her?"
Karina: "That girl idolizes you. Jalen didn't want everything that came with being Christian Connolly's kid, but she does. She's worried about you."
Christian: "Mom, I'm fine."
Karina: "Obviously you're not, with the way you're portraying yourself on television."
Christian: "Mom, look, I-"
Karina: "You're doing drugs, have sex with random women, and drinking heavily.. especially with what happened to your father... to Meika."
Christian: "... don't bring her up."
Karina: "No, Chris, you need to hear this. Ever since we lost her, you've been on this downward spiral. It's cost you everything. Your career is fading, you're losing your family, and your health. All because you can't cope with losing her. Do you think she wants to see you like this?! Abusing drugs & alcohol?! Setting this example for her daughter?!"
The six foot three mountain of a man felt his entire body shake with emotion as he felt his entire crumble around him. Tear drops began to manifest in his eyes before slowly flooding down his cheeks. Karina walked around the island to her son and he plunged forward, burying himself in her chest...
And cried... and cried... and cried. He’d wanted to do it for so long but he couldn’t bring himself to finally let go of the pain that had swelled up inside of him. Finally, facing up to the one thing that would undoubtedly be most painful, he had succumbed to the harsh reality that his life was draining away.
Christian: “I never really accepted it, you know,” he cried out. The sound of sobbing drowned out his entire coherency. “She was always there to keep my straight. All I had to do with be Christian Connolly, this big, fucking immortal, larger than life character but now I see that I’m not, Mom. It’s just so hard to take. I know you’re right in everything you say, but it’s just... how does I deal with it?”
Shedding a veil that he had spent a lifetime building up, the frailty and insecurities of a man that once projected an invisible persona, Christian Connolly finally spilled his emotions out into the open in one heartfelt declaration.
Karina: "You have to find it in you to be the man you once were. I know it's in you. It's just that-... you have to be strong, stronger than you ever thought you could be. Not just for yourself, but for Cataleya & Jalen. We all love you. Just be the best man that you can be."
After several minutes, Connolly stirred himself and wiped the water from his face. His eyes continued to face the floor. He couldn’t look at his mom; not in that state. With a final, defiant nod of the head, he pushed through the large oak door in front of him and slammed it shut behind him. Picking his gaze up from off the ground, he stared across the room at the one of the last things left in his possession that provided him with any real sense of joy: his thirteen year-old daughter, Cataleya.
Sitting in the middle of the couch and armed with an Xbox controller, she watches some cooking show on Netflix. Gritting his teeth together and holding back the avalanche of tears that yearned to pour down his face, he carefully paced towards the young girl.
Christian: "Hey there princess," announced Christian
Cataleya: "Daddy! I didn't know you were home!"
She hops up and rushes over to her father, hugging him tightly around the waist. Christian hugs her back, fighting back tears even harder. She lets go and looks up at her dad, he smile quickly fades away.
Cataleya: "Daddy, what's wrong?"
Christian: "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Cataleya: "You're a terrible liar. Really, what's wrong?"
Christian sighs.
Christian: “I’m going to tell you a quick story now, if that’s alright with you?”
She nodded silently.
Christian: “I once knew a guy that had done a lot of bad things in his life. He drank excessively. He wasn't there for his family. He even was addicted to drugs at one point. He was, generally, a bad egg, but because all of his friends were scared of how strong he was, they just sort of smiled and let him get on with it. Well, of course, things tend to come full circle and eventually all of these bad things caught up with him. He lost everything. What I’m trying to say to you, kiddo, is that life has this funny way of tallying things up; if you want to have a great time on this planet, be a great person. That’s just about the best advice I can ever give you.”
Cataleya: "You're not about to jump off a bridge or something, cause I was playing Life is Strange and-"
Christian: "No I'm not. I just-I know I haven't been the father you need for awhile now. And I'm sorry. Last thing I ever want, is for you or your brother to make the same mistakes I've made. I want both of you to be better than me in every way. I love you."
Cataleya looks at her dad before clutching him tight, not saying a word. She didn't have to. Christian knew exactly what she was thinking. She released her dad and both had a couple of tears in their eyes.
Christian: "I gotta go, got a flight to catch to Ohio. Keep being good, ok?"
Cataleya nods.
Christian turns to go to the door when she stops him.
Cataleya: "If you really wanna set a good example for me. You should win Monday night, ya know. I mean, you always told me that if you work hard, you can overcome anything. Well... prove it."
Christian raises and eyebrow, but then nods & smiles. He turns to the door, ready to take life head on, to be the man he once was.
~ * ~ * ~
(FADEIN: Hours later.. The Nationwide Arena. Backstage is Christian Connolly, sitting alone in a stairwell. You can hear the hustling and bustling of the production workers in the distance but it doesn't bother Christian.)
Christian: "You ready Mike?"
Mike gives a thumbs up.
Christian: "If you guys will give me moment, I wanna talk to you. I mean really talk to you cause you guys out there are pretty much like my family, ya know. You guys have been there every step of the way, so I wanna share this you with you guys.
So yeah... ummm... a few years ago, I lost my wife, my heart; as most of you are aware of.." (exhales) "It's something that I haven't been able to cope with properly. I thought I could find the answers in the bottom of a bottle, or in the vagina of random woman #6. It's just been so hard for me. And what sucks is that, I never took into account how my actions affected other people like my family, my friends, my peers. I just, kept being an asshole, doing what I wanted to do, not caring if I hurt anyone.
I lost who I was.
I lost what made me who I was.
For that, I am truly sorry."
Christian wipes a tear from his eye before looking back up at the camera.
Christian: "I know that I owe so many people. And the only way I can think to repay any of you, is to stand up, clean myself up, and be a better man. Monday night, I'll step in the ring with John Cable & John Gambino for the Intercontinental title. I guess this is a good place to start.
John Gambino.. I guess I should say welcome back. Most guys in my position would be worried about facing you. But I'm not. I look at you and I don't see the same guy that struck fear into people. Now sure, you can say the same about me, but it's different with you. You lack the passion that you once had. You lack the intensity. All you've done over the last couple of years is swear and remind everyone that you're considered a ‘legend’. But what happens when another so-called ‘legend’ is standing across from you? The two of us are a rare breed nowadays. You have no legacy that you can fall back upon when dealing with me, because I can just do the same and we find ourselves at point A once again. You can’t just swear a lot with you dainty Italian accent, because I can swear in my Southern accent and we have another stalemate. As far as I’m concerned, Gambino has changed for the worse. I’m just as intense as ever. I may have a few less jokes, but I’ve got a lot more venom. I’m just as passionate and willing to do whatever I need to, even if it means dying for my cause, just as I have done in the past. If you tarnish what I hold dear, I tarnish everything about you. I don’t just break you, I make it so all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, aren’t going to dare to put you together again. They’ll find it futile – a pointless exercise. If I want something, there is no single person who can stop me. And fighting with a renewed purpose, there is gonna be no stopping me.
John Gambino is no longer Bigg Rigg. He’s the artist formerly known as. He is just John now. A man, not a legend. Does he seriously think he can simply just waltz back in here after sitting on the couch for years and think he can overcome two of the best in the business right now? He's crazy.”
Christian cracks his neck. He's getting a little bit relaxed.
Christian: "Then there's the champ. So we find ourselves here again, eh Cable?”
His smile slowly peaking.
Christian: “Last time... I had you... I was so close ...”
His stare now upward.
Christian: “Laying awake... I wondered what I did wrong. Wondering were you... were you just better? Did I make a mistake? I just kept replaying it in my head... and it's made me want it so much more.
And I think it's because that I realize maybe I wasn't at my best. Now, I'm not making any excuses, you beat fair & square. But I just wonder, if Christian Connolly, the Suntan Superman had faced you and not Christian Connolly, the Drunk, then maybe things would have been different. We'll never know. But we just may find out this Monday night.
John, I respect the hell out of you. This match for me, isn't really about you. It's about what you represent for me. This is about me taking back what I've lost... my legacy.
About eight years ago, I started feeling like I couldn't do this anymore; that I couldn't hang with the best anymore. So, I starting doing steroids; not so I could get any advantage, but just so I could feel like I could compete. I lost my confidence that made me a legend. And for years now, I've floundered around as a shell of my former self.
I've disappointed alot of people along the way; people, family, fans that have stood behind, supported, bailed my out of trouble because they still believed that I could still be the man I once was.
Monday night, I do my best to repay them by winning the Intercontinental title.
You're on the roll of your life, Cable.. but you're not unbeatable. I proved that there is a chink in the armor and this time, I will not make any mistakes. I will claim my credibility and legacy back. I’m not going to make any exceptions here. This is all business. This is about tattooing my name into the wrestling history books and rightfully taking my place at the top of the mountain once again. This is... my fucking life’s work at stake.
Us three are walking down a one way street heading towards annihilation, but only one man will leave the arena as an immortal. This may be my final shot at ensuring my name is remembered for all of eternity...
And I’m certainly not going to let a fossil or a glorious sidekick stand in my way.
Dig your fucking trenches, soldiers. You’re both in for a long night."
FTB.
Karina: "You really need to talk to her Christian,"
The bags underneath his eyes sagged like overloaded shopping packages. However, despite his deteriorating demeanor, his temperament remained the same.
Christian: "What the fuck? What am I supposed to say to her?"
Karina: "That girl idolizes you. Jalen didn't want everything that came with being Christian Connolly's kid, but she does. She's worried about you."
Christian: "Mom, I'm fine."
Karina: "Obviously you're not, with the way you're portraying yourself on television."
Christian: "Mom, look, I-"
Karina: "You're doing drugs, have sex with random women, and drinking heavily.. especially with what happened to your father... to Meika."
Christian: "... don't bring her up."
Karina: "No, Chris, you need to hear this. Ever since we lost her, you've been on this downward spiral. It's cost you everything. Your career is fading, you're losing your family, and your health. All because you can't cope with losing her. Do you think she wants to see you like this?! Abusing drugs & alcohol?! Setting this example for her daughter?!"
The six foot three mountain of a man felt his entire body shake with emotion as he felt his entire crumble around him. Tear drops began to manifest in his eyes before slowly flooding down his cheeks. Karina walked around the island to her son and he plunged forward, burying himself in her chest...
And cried... and cried... and cried. He’d wanted to do it for so long but he couldn’t bring himself to finally let go of the pain that had swelled up inside of him. Finally, facing up to the one thing that would undoubtedly be most painful, he had succumbed to the harsh reality that his life was draining away.
Christian: “I never really accepted it, you know,” he cried out. The sound of sobbing drowned out his entire coherency. “She was always there to keep my straight. All I had to do with be Christian Connolly, this big, fucking immortal, larger than life character but now I see that I’m not, Mom. It’s just so hard to take. I know you’re right in everything you say, but it’s just... how does I deal with it?”
Shedding a veil that he had spent a lifetime building up, the frailty and insecurities of a man that once projected an invisible persona, Christian Connolly finally spilled his emotions out into the open in one heartfelt declaration.
Karina: "You have to find it in you to be the man you once were. I know it's in you. It's just that-... you have to be strong, stronger than you ever thought you could be. Not just for yourself, but for Cataleya & Jalen. We all love you. Just be the best man that you can be."
After several minutes, Connolly stirred himself and wiped the water from his face. His eyes continued to face the floor. He couldn’t look at his mom; not in that state. With a final, defiant nod of the head, he pushed through the large oak door in front of him and slammed it shut behind him. Picking his gaze up from off the ground, he stared across the room at the one of the last things left in his possession that provided him with any real sense of joy: his thirteen year-old daughter, Cataleya.
Sitting in the middle of the couch and armed with an Xbox controller, she watches some cooking show on Netflix. Gritting his teeth together and holding back the avalanche of tears that yearned to pour down his face, he carefully paced towards the young girl.
Christian: "Hey there princess," announced Christian
Cataleya: "Daddy! I didn't know you were home!"
She hops up and rushes over to her father, hugging him tightly around the waist. Christian hugs her back, fighting back tears even harder. She lets go and looks up at her dad, he smile quickly fades away.
Cataleya: "Daddy, what's wrong?"
Christian: "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Cataleya: "You're a terrible liar. Really, what's wrong?"
Christian sighs.
Christian: “I’m going to tell you a quick story now, if that’s alright with you?”
She nodded silently.
Christian: “I once knew a guy that had done a lot of bad things in his life. He drank excessively. He wasn't there for his family. He even was addicted to drugs at one point. He was, generally, a bad egg, but because all of his friends were scared of how strong he was, they just sort of smiled and let him get on with it. Well, of course, things tend to come full circle and eventually all of these bad things caught up with him. He lost everything. What I’m trying to say to you, kiddo, is that life has this funny way of tallying things up; if you want to have a great time on this planet, be a great person. That’s just about the best advice I can ever give you.”
Cataleya: "You're not about to jump off a bridge or something, cause I was playing Life is Strange and-"
Christian: "No I'm not. I just-I know I haven't been the father you need for awhile now. And I'm sorry. Last thing I ever want, is for you or your brother to make the same mistakes I've made. I want both of you to be better than me in every way. I love you."
Cataleya looks at her dad before clutching him tight, not saying a word. She didn't have to. Christian knew exactly what she was thinking. She released her dad and both had a couple of tears in their eyes.
Christian: "I gotta go, got a flight to catch to Ohio. Keep being good, ok?"
Cataleya nods.
Christian turns to go to the door when she stops him.
Cataleya: "If you really wanna set a good example for me. You should win Monday night, ya know. I mean, you always told me that if you work hard, you can overcome anything. Well... prove it."
Christian raises and eyebrow, but then nods & smiles. He turns to the door, ready to take life head on, to be the man he once was.
~ * ~ * ~
(FADEIN: Hours later.. The Nationwide Arena. Backstage is Christian Connolly, sitting alone in a stairwell. You can hear the hustling and bustling of the production workers in the distance but it doesn't bother Christian.)
Christian: "You ready Mike?"
Mike gives a thumbs up.
Christian: "If you guys will give me moment, I wanna talk to you. I mean really talk to you cause you guys out there are pretty much like my family, ya know. You guys have been there every step of the way, so I wanna share this you with you guys.
So yeah... ummm... a few years ago, I lost my wife, my heart; as most of you are aware of.." (exhales) "It's something that I haven't been able to cope with properly. I thought I could find the answers in the bottom of a bottle, or in the vagina of random woman #6. It's just been so hard for me. And what sucks is that, I never took into account how my actions affected other people like my family, my friends, my peers. I just, kept being an asshole, doing what I wanted to do, not caring if I hurt anyone.
I lost who I was.
I lost what made me who I was.
For that, I am truly sorry."
Christian wipes a tear from his eye before looking back up at the camera.
Christian: "I know that I owe so many people. And the only way I can think to repay any of you, is to stand up, clean myself up, and be a better man. Monday night, I'll step in the ring with John Cable & John Gambino for the Intercontinental title. I guess this is a good place to start.
John Gambino.. I guess I should say welcome back. Most guys in my position would be worried about facing you. But I'm not. I look at you and I don't see the same guy that struck fear into people. Now sure, you can say the same about me, but it's different with you. You lack the passion that you once had. You lack the intensity. All you've done over the last couple of years is swear and remind everyone that you're considered a ‘legend’. But what happens when another so-called ‘legend’ is standing across from you? The two of us are a rare breed nowadays. You have no legacy that you can fall back upon when dealing with me, because I can just do the same and we find ourselves at point A once again. You can’t just swear a lot with you dainty Italian accent, because I can swear in my Southern accent and we have another stalemate. As far as I’m concerned, Gambino has changed for the worse. I’m just as intense as ever. I may have a few less jokes, but I’ve got a lot more venom. I’m just as passionate and willing to do whatever I need to, even if it means dying for my cause, just as I have done in the past. If you tarnish what I hold dear, I tarnish everything about you. I don’t just break you, I make it so all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, aren’t going to dare to put you together again. They’ll find it futile – a pointless exercise. If I want something, there is no single person who can stop me. And fighting with a renewed purpose, there is gonna be no stopping me.
John Gambino is no longer Bigg Rigg. He’s the artist formerly known as. He is just John now. A man, not a legend. Does he seriously think he can simply just waltz back in here after sitting on the couch for years and think he can overcome two of the best in the business right now? He's crazy.”
Christian cracks his neck. He's getting a little bit relaxed.
Christian: "Then there's the champ. So we find ourselves here again, eh Cable?”
His smile slowly peaking.
Christian: “Last time... I had you... I was so close ...”
His stare now upward.
Christian: “Laying awake... I wondered what I did wrong. Wondering were you... were you just better? Did I make a mistake? I just kept replaying it in my head... and it's made me want it so much more.
And I think it's because that I realize maybe I wasn't at my best. Now, I'm not making any excuses, you beat fair & square. But I just wonder, if Christian Connolly, the Suntan Superman had faced you and not Christian Connolly, the Drunk, then maybe things would have been different. We'll never know. But we just may find out this Monday night.
John, I respect the hell out of you. This match for me, isn't really about you. It's about what you represent for me. This is about me taking back what I've lost... my legacy.
About eight years ago, I started feeling like I couldn't do this anymore; that I couldn't hang with the best anymore. So, I starting doing steroids; not so I could get any advantage, but just so I could feel like I could compete. I lost my confidence that made me a legend. And for years now, I've floundered around as a shell of my former self.
I've disappointed alot of people along the way; people, family, fans that have stood behind, supported, bailed my out of trouble because they still believed that I could still be the man I once was.
Monday night, I do my best to repay them by winning the Intercontinental title.
You're on the roll of your life, Cable.. but you're not unbeatable. I proved that there is a chink in the armor and this time, I will not make any mistakes. I will claim my credibility and legacy back. I’m not going to make any exceptions here. This is all business. This is about tattooing my name into the wrestling history books and rightfully taking my place at the top of the mountain once again. This is... my fucking life’s work at stake.
Us three are walking down a one way street heading towards annihilation, but only one man will leave the arena as an immortal. This may be my final shot at ensuring my name is remembered for all of eternity...
And I’m certainly not going to let a fossil or a glorious sidekick stand in my way.
Dig your fucking trenches, soldiers. You’re both in for a long night."
FTB.