Post by The DVC on May 27, 2018 23:07:48 GMT -5
“R.I.P
That’s what it said on the tombstone. “R.I.P Joel 'Ironman' Kurtiss.” No special message or anything. I couldn’t think of one that I deemed fitting. “Great friend” was too generic, “Kind soul” was too cheesy, and for some reason I wasn’t allowed to get “Most awesomest fucking dude to ever live” on that thing. I guess that label is reserved for Jesus or something. They’ll probably put that on Lee Stone’s tombstone, in neon lights.”
”Keep on topic please Christian,” says the doctor, the same middle-aged, roughly shaven psychiatrist that Christian was meeting with last time.
”Right, my bad. Serious things just aren’t my strong point,” Christian solemnly admits.
”I’ve noticed.” A slight nod comes with the doctor’s reply.
”Well where was I?” Christian asks, more out of a subconscious desire to avoid talking about anything of importance than because he legitimately forgot.
”The tombstone.”
”Oh… right…” A brief moment passes as he gathers his thoughts before speaking again. ”It’s like… I wanted the message to matter. I wanted everybody and anybody to walk past the grave and have the message catch their attention out of the corner of their eye. That peripheral vision shit. I wanted people to walk past that grave and think to themselves “Joel Kurtiss, hmm… I wonder what he did with his life. It must’ve been quite important to get such a fancy tombstone and ooh… look at that wonderful message written on it. He must’ve been loved.” I only half-succeeded though, and that results in even more of a failure. I got a great big tombstone with the intention of giving Joel the send-off that he rightfully deserved. But now that tombstone looks even emptier because all that’s on there is “R.I.P Joel 'Ironman' Kurtiss”. I’m half expecting to go back there and see the clean gray stone covered in graffiti.”
”Do you really think somebody would do that?” The doctor peers over the rim of his glasses.
”It doesn’t matter if I think that or not. All that matters is that there’s a slab of rock jutting up out of the ground, marking the point where Joel is buried and all that is written on that rock is “R.I.P Joel 'Ironman' Kurtiss”. I mean, it wasn’t even my idea to include the “Ironman” part on there. That was actually written into his will.”
”Well what do you think Joel would’ve wanted you to put on it?” Christian sighs heavily as he leans forward and digs his elbows into his legs to keep the rest of his body from toppling over. His head succumbs to gravity as it hangs low staring at the ground.
”He’d probably be perfectly content with what is on there right now,” Christian says, looking up at the Doctor.
”So where’s the problem then?”
”I don’t know… I think… Joel was modest. The only ego he ever had was used solely to keep mine in check. He was never the type to waltz into a room and yell at the top of his lungs “I’m the greatest motherfucker up in this bitch!” Meanwhile I’d have some douchebags carry in a banner and play the damn trumpets to announce my arrival. I don’t do subtle, and here was a chance to use all the glitz and glamour I can afford for a worthy cause. But everything about that tombstone seems wrong. Even the standard “R.I.P”. Is that like a command or something? Who am I to demand that Joel must rest in peace? What if he doesn’t want to? What if he wants to come and haunt my crazy ass? I’d sure welcome the company, but is somebody actually going to do something to Joel if that’s what he decides? Is there some ghost police with ghost batons and ghost guns who enforce the “Rest in Peace” written on everybody’s tombstones? Just how peaceful is death anyway? Does anybody even know if it’s possible to be at peace once you’re dead? What if the terrorists are right, and Allah is the real God? All of us infidels will spend the rest of eternity getting fucked up by some demon sonofabitches. It’d take a twisted mind to find the torture of hell peaceful.”
”Isn’t that the point of faith though?” the good doctor inquires, ”If one believes enough to think that there is a heaven and hell, then surely one thinks that they’re believing in the right religion.”
”Faith is for the weak or the incredibly strong,” Christian bluntly states.
”That’s a bold statement.”
”Yeah, it is.” Christian nods, further showing his agreement. ”But it’s true. Just think about it, the weak people of this world have faith because they need something to follow to make their lives worthwhile. The incredibly strong have faith to keep them humble, because after all the good that they’ve done, the supposed knowledge that it can all be taken away from them in an instant keeps them from going power-hungry.”
”Okay… but what are you? Are you strong or are you weak?” This earns a chuckle from Christian who feels that he should’ve been expecting that question.
”I’m strong. Perhaps one of the strongest. In our day and age though, the incredibly strong are all gone. They die for what they believe in. I'll die for what I believe in, which is what makes me strong. I just would never use the word “incredible” to describe myself. Perhaps “amazing” or even “incomparable”, but not “incredible”.”
”So what is it that you believe in?”
”I believe that I can do abso-fucking-lutely anything,” Christian firmly says, “And that’s the entire reason this tombstone business is getting to me.”
”Maybe you just need to go back to the grave and look at the tombstone again,” the doctor suggests. ”That way you can see if it really is as bad as you think it is.”
”While that’s a nice thought Doc, I’ve got too much on my plate to head back to Canada right now. I gotta head to Beijing for Brawl on Monday…”
”And you’re not going to be much good to anybody there if your head isn’t in the right place,” he says, interrupting Christian.
”I’ve got to see Alexis though, I’ve been away for two weeks now, that’s far too long.
”Do you have every intention of going to seeing her as soon as possible?” the doctor asks.
”You know I do.”
”And she knows this?”
”Well I hope a simple look at the rock on her finger will let her know.”
”She’ll understand then.”
”Yeah, I know.” His voice weakens as he speaks. ”I just don’t know if I do.”
”What was that?”
”Nothing man. I’ll do what you’re saying and I’ll try my best to keep an open mind, but I ain’t promising anything.”
”Neither am I.”
”Super,” he says, the strength in his voice taking back its rightful place. ”Are we done?”
”Yes. I think that’ll do for today. I’ll see you next week?”
”If I make it ‘til then.” Christian’s dark joke puts a smile only on his own face.
”Bye Christian,” the doctor stands up and just a quick step behind, Christian does the same.
”Later Doc,” and they clasp hands.
* * * * * * *
Christian’s private jet has left the beautiful spring of Virginia and returned for the umpteenth time to the country of Canada. Just as the doctor had predicted, the ever-understanding Alexis Banks has given both permission and encouragement to our cynical hero and now he finds himself wandering through the graveyard where his longtime friend Joel Kurtiss was buried.
With him, clutching Christian's hand is Alexis Banks. The two of them walk back between the tombstones on a path. As they silently tread down these cobblestones, the exact picture of what Christian had described to the doctor soon becomes visible. And there, in front of Joel’s tombstone is where Christian guides Alexis to sit once more.
”It’s too bare.”
”My thoughts exactly, I just didn’t know what to put on there. What would you have put if it was up to you?”
”I…” she tries but no words come right away. After taking some time to think, she finally says something. “Everything. I would’ve put everything on there.”
”Everything…” Christian repeats, ”I like that.
From the one side pocket that his shorts have, Christian brings out a marker pen. Smiling warmly at Alexis, he then leans forward and on the stone underneath what is already carved, he writes the word “Everything” in large letters. Sitting back, he looks at the tombstone and then at Alexis, as another tear rolls down her cheek. But rather than saying anything she motions for Christian to hand the pen to her, a request which he fulfills. With the pen in hand, Alexis now leans forward and writes above Christian’s word. She writes more words than him and so takes a little longer, but once she’s done she sits back in the same manner as Christian. With a large smile on his face, he reads what she wrote.
”Thank you for…” He laughs now as he combines what they both wrote. ”Thank you for everything.”
”That’s much better.”
”Agreed, but it could be better still.” And now Christian motions for the pen once again. When he receives it, he leans forward and scrawls out another new message. This one reads “I’d be happy for you to haunt me” and it even manages to crack Alexis, turning her into a messy combination of sobbing and laughing. They take turns writing new messages all over the front, back and sides of the tombstone. Alexis draws a rose to make up for the lack of flowers around the grave. Christian draws a car with an arrow saying “LEGACY”, that’s what Joel’s car was. The final thing that they write is done with both of their hands on the pen at the same time. And as awkward as that sounds, on the bottom of the front of the tombstone, in the largest letters of them all, four words can legibly be seen. “We still love you”.
”Thank you,” Alexis says as they both lean back to examine their handiwork.
”Nah, thank him.” She laughs before answering.
”I was,” she says, grinning ear-to-ear. ”But thank you as well.”
”Don’t mention it. Helped myself out here too.” He takes her by the hand and looks her directly in the eye. ”But promise me one thing.”
”Anything.”
”Promise me that if you ever need anything, you’ll come to me, because I will always be here for you.”
”You don’t even need to tell me that. Even when you were on your little ‘leave of absence’ as we will now call it, Joel always wished you were around. Things happen around you Christian. A lot of it seems to be bad, but somehow you make everything work out.” And in a rare turn of events, Connolly is speechless. ”But there is something that I want you to promise me.”
”Anything,” he says with a glimmer of his teeth showing in a smile as he exaggerates passion to make it seem like something from a soap opera. Alexis fights back a chuckle to answer
”On the first of August, every year, can you meet me?”
”At her grave?” She nods. “Her” is Alexis' younger sister. The first of August was the day of her death.
”And on the twenty-fifth of May, can you meet me here?” The twenty-fifth of May was the day Joel officially died.
”We’ll write all over this tombstone again if we have to,” Christian says, in his own way of promising. ”I will be there.”
”Thank you.”
”You know… I never get tired of being thanked. But as wicked cool as that is, I really need to get to home,” he says, getting to his feet.
”To the hotel?” Alexis follows his lead and also gets to her feet.
”No, babe.” They begin to walk back to the entrance of the graveyard. ”To life. I don’t want to mourn and mope around for the rest of my life. I’m got a match Monday night in Beijing of all places. I'm gonna focus my energy on being the best I can be.”
”You do that.”
”Oh I will, but the last thing I want to know, will you come with me?”
”Wait. Really? You've never wanted me around you while wrestling?”
”I know,” Christian nods approval as they step out onto the sidewalk. Christian’s limo is parked just a few feet away. ”..but things change.”
”I see. Well I've always wanted to go to China. Us three will have a great time."
”Three?” Christian’s puzzled expression is met with a smile and a wink from Alexis.
”I have the utmost faith that Joel is right here with us now.” Christian is amused by this. It’s the faith that amuses him the most, but just thinking of having Joel nearby puts the smile on his face.
”Well tell him if he wants to haunt me, then he better not break anything or I’ll die, whoop his ghost ass and then bring myself back alive. Now come here sweetheart.” And they hug.
* * * * * * *
The camera opens on Christian Connolly in an airport lobby. People move all over the place in the background, each with their own life and story to tell, but it’s Christian who has the stage now, and it’s him that you came to hear. His clothes have changed to fit the colder climate, and without further ado, here’s the warm little bear himself. Oh God, I can’t believe I just said that.
"The build up.
Every defining event has it. Whether it’s a media shower, a meteor shower, or just a normal, hot water shower. There’s always a build up.
Tensions rise. The atmosphere begins to change. You always feel it, but sometimes you only realize that you feel it after it’s already happened. After it’s already too late.
When watching a movie, at the very least the first hour will be spent on the build up. Often it can even reach two hours or more. Sometimes the characters know that it’s coming, sometimes they don’t. It depends on the movie. If you’re watching something like Armageddon, you know damn well that the climax will occur when the asteroid gets real close to the earth and The Rock and Kevin Hart haven’t yet made it explode, because even The Rock can’t save the world from the problem that is Kevin Hart. But when you’re watching something such as the Avengers Infinity War, you don’t know when the climax is coming, the characters don’t know… nobody knows, until it happens. Nobody knows until the strongest emotions have been felt, and resolved. Nobody knows that right then and there, there was a change in the balance of things. A change in the force if you’re a Star Wars geek. Your good, your bad… it all changes.
You’d be right to wonder what the hell I’m babbling about. It’s something you don’t understand until you see it, or feel it for yourself."
Christian pauses as Alexis Banks plops down beside him with a styrofoam container. She opens it up and breathes in the aroma of the food.
"Poutine?"
"No thanks, kinda in the middle of something"
She looks up at the camera and is surprised a bit.
"My bad, I'ma just sit here and eat this. Don't mind me."
Christian shakes his head & smirks.
"Ok. Where was I? Oh yeah, the build up. Chris Dorling, we've been involved in directly and indirectly over the past few months has been our build up. Everything that has gone on, has led our meteor killing moment in Beijing this Monday night. Nobody will be leaving their seats during this encounter. Because it has had such amazing build up that they would have to be morons to do so.
There’s something you should know though Dorling, this isn’t your test. This is a test, but not the only one you’re ever going to face. You have the talent, nobody denies that, but you need to realize that every match you have is a test. Every new opponent gives you something different in that ring. Even if they appear to be carbon copies of each other, they bring something new to the table. Every opponent is a test, every time you face them. The WGWF is a test. It tests your character, your perseverance. It tests your entire being. Now I won’t make the assumption that you’re greener behind the ears than somebody who actually has green paint behind their ears, but when it comes to the world of the WGWF, you are a rookie. And this place is different than any other place you ever could’ve wrestled in before. And trust me, as being a guy who has conquered so many companies before this place, I know that to be a fact.
The beauty about being you in this match, is that a loss will do nothing to your rising star. You may not get thrust straight into World Title matches, but your determination and hunger will be fueled by this loss so much that when you do get your turn in the spotlight you will do absolutely anything to make the best of it. I have more to lose here. And that makes me more desperate. But I’m not expecting you to be a pushover. I expect for sixty minutes for you to bring everything you have in the tank. I'm expecting you to break out moves, you haven't used in the WGWF. I'm you to try anything to get the victory.
I know I’ll have to work, and I know I’ll have to work probably as hard as ever. But I will work hard, and I will win. It’s as simple as that. Cause I don't have sixty minutes in you to beat me. I'm not losing this Intercontinental title. As you keep driving home, how much you want this title. How much you want this victory. But your want will never exceed my NEED. I NEED this title. I NEED to win this match.
I can't go back. I just can't go back down to where I was.
So Monday night, all I ask from you is to leave it all in the ring. I want no excuses when I walk out after sixty minutes of hell, STILL the WGWF Intercontinental champion."
And the scene fades to black.
That’s what it said on the tombstone. “R.I.P Joel 'Ironman' Kurtiss.” No special message or anything. I couldn’t think of one that I deemed fitting. “Great friend” was too generic, “Kind soul” was too cheesy, and for some reason I wasn’t allowed to get “Most awesomest fucking dude to ever live” on that thing. I guess that label is reserved for Jesus or something. They’ll probably put that on Lee Stone’s tombstone, in neon lights.”
”Keep on topic please Christian,” says the doctor, the same middle-aged, roughly shaven psychiatrist that Christian was meeting with last time.
”Right, my bad. Serious things just aren’t my strong point,” Christian solemnly admits.
”I’ve noticed.” A slight nod comes with the doctor’s reply.
”Well where was I?” Christian asks, more out of a subconscious desire to avoid talking about anything of importance than because he legitimately forgot.
”The tombstone.”
”Oh… right…” A brief moment passes as he gathers his thoughts before speaking again. ”It’s like… I wanted the message to matter. I wanted everybody and anybody to walk past the grave and have the message catch their attention out of the corner of their eye. That peripheral vision shit. I wanted people to walk past that grave and think to themselves “Joel Kurtiss, hmm… I wonder what he did with his life. It must’ve been quite important to get such a fancy tombstone and ooh… look at that wonderful message written on it. He must’ve been loved.” I only half-succeeded though, and that results in even more of a failure. I got a great big tombstone with the intention of giving Joel the send-off that he rightfully deserved. But now that tombstone looks even emptier because all that’s on there is “R.I.P Joel 'Ironman' Kurtiss”. I’m half expecting to go back there and see the clean gray stone covered in graffiti.”
”Do you really think somebody would do that?” The doctor peers over the rim of his glasses.
”It doesn’t matter if I think that or not. All that matters is that there’s a slab of rock jutting up out of the ground, marking the point where Joel is buried and all that is written on that rock is “R.I.P Joel 'Ironman' Kurtiss”. I mean, it wasn’t even my idea to include the “Ironman” part on there. That was actually written into his will.”
”Well what do you think Joel would’ve wanted you to put on it?” Christian sighs heavily as he leans forward and digs his elbows into his legs to keep the rest of his body from toppling over. His head succumbs to gravity as it hangs low staring at the ground.
”He’d probably be perfectly content with what is on there right now,” Christian says, looking up at the Doctor.
”So where’s the problem then?”
”I don’t know… I think… Joel was modest. The only ego he ever had was used solely to keep mine in check. He was never the type to waltz into a room and yell at the top of his lungs “I’m the greatest motherfucker up in this bitch!” Meanwhile I’d have some douchebags carry in a banner and play the damn trumpets to announce my arrival. I don’t do subtle, and here was a chance to use all the glitz and glamour I can afford for a worthy cause. But everything about that tombstone seems wrong. Even the standard “R.I.P”. Is that like a command or something? Who am I to demand that Joel must rest in peace? What if he doesn’t want to? What if he wants to come and haunt my crazy ass? I’d sure welcome the company, but is somebody actually going to do something to Joel if that’s what he decides? Is there some ghost police with ghost batons and ghost guns who enforce the “Rest in Peace” written on everybody’s tombstones? Just how peaceful is death anyway? Does anybody even know if it’s possible to be at peace once you’re dead? What if the terrorists are right, and Allah is the real God? All of us infidels will spend the rest of eternity getting fucked up by some demon sonofabitches. It’d take a twisted mind to find the torture of hell peaceful.”
”Isn’t that the point of faith though?” the good doctor inquires, ”If one believes enough to think that there is a heaven and hell, then surely one thinks that they’re believing in the right religion.”
”Faith is for the weak or the incredibly strong,” Christian bluntly states.
”That’s a bold statement.”
”Yeah, it is.” Christian nods, further showing his agreement. ”But it’s true. Just think about it, the weak people of this world have faith because they need something to follow to make their lives worthwhile. The incredibly strong have faith to keep them humble, because after all the good that they’ve done, the supposed knowledge that it can all be taken away from them in an instant keeps them from going power-hungry.”
”Okay… but what are you? Are you strong or are you weak?” This earns a chuckle from Christian who feels that he should’ve been expecting that question.
”I’m strong. Perhaps one of the strongest. In our day and age though, the incredibly strong are all gone. They die for what they believe in. I'll die for what I believe in, which is what makes me strong. I just would never use the word “incredible” to describe myself. Perhaps “amazing” or even “incomparable”, but not “incredible”.”
”So what is it that you believe in?”
”I believe that I can do abso-fucking-lutely anything,” Christian firmly says, “And that’s the entire reason this tombstone business is getting to me.”
”Maybe you just need to go back to the grave and look at the tombstone again,” the doctor suggests. ”That way you can see if it really is as bad as you think it is.”
”While that’s a nice thought Doc, I’ve got too much on my plate to head back to Canada right now. I gotta head to Beijing for Brawl on Monday…”
”And you’re not going to be much good to anybody there if your head isn’t in the right place,” he says, interrupting Christian.
”I’ve got to see Alexis though, I’ve been away for two weeks now, that’s far too long.
”Do you have every intention of going to seeing her as soon as possible?” the doctor asks.
”You know I do.”
”And she knows this?”
”Well I hope a simple look at the rock on her finger will let her know.”
”She’ll understand then.”
”Yeah, I know.” His voice weakens as he speaks. ”I just don’t know if I do.”
”What was that?”
”Nothing man. I’ll do what you’re saying and I’ll try my best to keep an open mind, but I ain’t promising anything.”
”Neither am I.”
”Super,” he says, the strength in his voice taking back its rightful place. ”Are we done?”
”Yes. I think that’ll do for today. I’ll see you next week?”
”If I make it ‘til then.” Christian’s dark joke puts a smile only on his own face.
”Bye Christian,” the doctor stands up and just a quick step behind, Christian does the same.
”Later Doc,” and they clasp hands.
* * * * * * *
Christian’s private jet has left the beautiful spring of Virginia and returned for the umpteenth time to the country of Canada. Just as the doctor had predicted, the ever-understanding Alexis Banks has given both permission and encouragement to our cynical hero and now he finds himself wandering through the graveyard where his longtime friend Joel Kurtiss was buried.
With him, clutching Christian's hand is Alexis Banks. The two of them walk back between the tombstones on a path. As they silently tread down these cobblestones, the exact picture of what Christian had described to the doctor soon becomes visible. And there, in front of Joel’s tombstone is where Christian guides Alexis to sit once more.
”It’s too bare.”
”My thoughts exactly, I just didn’t know what to put on there. What would you have put if it was up to you?”
”I…” she tries but no words come right away. After taking some time to think, she finally says something. “Everything. I would’ve put everything on there.”
”Everything…” Christian repeats, ”I like that.
From the one side pocket that his shorts have, Christian brings out a marker pen. Smiling warmly at Alexis, he then leans forward and on the stone underneath what is already carved, he writes the word “Everything” in large letters. Sitting back, he looks at the tombstone and then at Alexis, as another tear rolls down her cheek. But rather than saying anything she motions for Christian to hand the pen to her, a request which he fulfills. With the pen in hand, Alexis now leans forward and writes above Christian’s word. She writes more words than him and so takes a little longer, but once she’s done she sits back in the same manner as Christian. With a large smile on his face, he reads what she wrote.
”Thank you for…” He laughs now as he combines what they both wrote. ”Thank you for everything.”
”That’s much better.”
”Agreed, but it could be better still.” And now Christian motions for the pen once again. When he receives it, he leans forward and scrawls out another new message. This one reads “I’d be happy for you to haunt me” and it even manages to crack Alexis, turning her into a messy combination of sobbing and laughing. They take turns writing new messages all over the front, back and sides of the tombstone. Alexis draws a rose to make up for the lack of flowers around the grave. Christian draws a car with an arrow saying “LEGACY”, that’s what Joel’s car was. The final thing that they write is done with both of their hands on the pen at the same time. And as awkward as that sounds, on the bottom of the front of the tombstone, in the largest letters of them all, four words can legibly be seen. “We still love you”.
”Thank you,” Alexis says as they both lean back to examine their handiwork.
”Nah, thank him.” She laughs before answering.
”I was,” she says, grinning ear-to-ear. ”But thank you as well.”
”Don’t mention it. Helped myself out here too.” He takes her by the hand and looks her directly in the eye. ”But promise me one thing.”
”Anything.”
”Promise me that if you ever need anything, you’ll come to me, because I will always be here for you.”
”You don’t even need to tell me that. Even when you were on your little ‘leave of absence’ as we will now call it, Joel always wished you were around. Things happen around you Christian. A lot of it seems to be bad, but somehow you make everything work out.” And in a rare turn of events, Connolly is speechless. ”But there is something that I want you to promise me.”
”Anything,” he says with a glimmer of his teeth showing in a smile as he exaggerates passion to make it seem like something from a soap opera. Alexis fights back a chuckle to answer
”On the first of August, every year, can you meet me?”
”At her grave?” She nods. “Her” is Alexis' younger sister. The first of August was the day of her death.
”And on the twenty-fifth of May, can you meet me here?” The twenty-fifth of May was the day Joel officially died.
”We’ll write all over this tombstone again if we have to,” Christian says, in his own way of promising. ”I will be there.”
”Thank you.”
”You know… I never get tired of being thanked. But as wicked cool as that is, I really need to get to home,” he says, getting to his feet.
”To the hotel?” Alexis follows his lead and also gets to her feet.
”No, babe.” They begin to walk back to the entrance of the graveyard. ”To life. I don’t want to mourn and mope around for the rest of my life. I’m got a match Monday night in Beijing of all places. I'm gonna focus my energy on being the best I can be.”
”You do that.”
”Oh I will, but the last thing I want to know, will you come with me?”
”Wait. Really? You've never wanted me around you while wrestling?”
”I know,” Christian nods approval as they step out onto the sidewalk. Christian’s limo is parked just a few feet away. ”..but things change.”
”I see. Well I've always wanted to go to China. Us three will have a great time."
”Three?” Christian’s puzzled expression is met with a smile and a wink from Alexis.
”I have the utmost faith that Joel is right here with us now.” Christian is amused by this. It’s the faith that amuses him the most, but just thinking of having Joel nearby puts the smile on his face.
”Well tell him if he wants to haunt me, then he better not break anything or I’ll die, whoop his ghost ass and then bring myself back alive. Now come here sweetheart.” And they hug.
* * * * * * *
The camera opens on Christian Connolly in an airport lobby. People move all over the place in the background, each with their own life and story to tell, but it’s Christian who has the stage now, and it’s him that you came to hear. His clothes have changed to fit the colder climate, and without further ado, here’s the warm little bear himself. Oh God, I can’t believe I just said that.
"The build up.
Every defining event has it. Whether it’s a media shower, a meteor shower, or just a normal, hot water shower. There’s always a build up.
Tensions rise. The atmosphere begins to change. You always feel it, but sometimes you only realize that you feel it after it’s already happened. After it’s already too late.
When watching a movie, at the very least the first hour will be spent on the build up. Often it can even reach two hours or more. Sometimes the characters know that it’s coming, sometimes they don’t. It depends on the movie. If you’re watching something like Armageddon, you know damn well that the climax will occur when the asteroid gets real close to the earth and The Rock and Kevin Hart haven’t yet made it explode, because even The Rock can’t save the world from the problem that is Kevin Hart. But when you’re watching something such as the Avengers Infinity War, you don’t know when the climax is coming, the characters don’t know… nobody knows, until it happens. Nobody knows until the strongest emotions have been felt, and resolved. Nobody knows that right then and there, there was a change in the balance of things. A change in the force if you’re a Star Wars geek. Your good, your bad… it all changes.
You’d be right to wonder what the hell I’m babbling about. It’s something you don’t understand until you see it, or feel it for yourself."
Christian pauses as Alexis Banks plops down beside him with a styrofoam container. She opens it up and breathes in the aroma of the food.
"Poutine?"
"No thanks, kinda in the middle of something"
She looks up at the camera and is surprised a bit.
"My bad, I'ma just sit here and eat this. Don't mind me."
Christian shakes his head & smirks.
"Ok. Where was I? Oh yeah, the build up. Chris Dorling, we've been involved in directly and indirectly over the past few months has been our build up. Everything that has gone on, has led our meteor killing moment in Beijing this Monday night. Nobody will be leaving their seats during this encounter. Because it has had such amazing build up that they would have to be morons to do so.
And even though I don't have the desire to verbally rip you to shreds, there are a few things you need to know. The respect you show for me, I appreciate it. But once that bell rings, it isn’t going to be reciprocated. I’ve watched you, I’ve faced you. I’ve seen the way you approach your matches. When you faced Lunacy, you knew you were better than him and were out to prove it. Here though… this week… things are a bit muddy. You cannot stand there and tell me that you’re better than me. You have no supporting evidence, nothing even close to the resume that I have. So you show respect. You do what any, good person would do. Recognize where you’re at a disadvantage and praise those who have done what you’ve yet to do. You had that approach at Wrestle Wars and it didn't work. Maybe it works this time. Or maybe I adapt to it, and crush it.
There’s something you should know though Dorling, this isn’t your test. This is a test, but not the only one you’re ever going to face. You have the talent, nobody denies that, but you need to realize that every match you have is a test. Every new opponent gives you something different in that ring. Even if they appear to be carbon copies of each other, they bring something new to the table. Every opponent is a test, every time you face them. The WGWF is a test. It tests your character, your perseverance. It tests your entire being. Now I won’t make the assumption that you’re greener behind the ears than somebody who actually has green paint behind their ears, but when it comes to the world of the WGWF, you are a rookie. And this place is different than any other place you ever could’ve wrestled in before. And trust me, as being a guy who has conquered so many companies before this place, I know that to be a fact.
The beauty about being you in this match, is that a loss will do nothing to your rising star. You may not get thrust straight into World Title matches, but your determination and hunger will be fueled by this loss so much that when you do get your turn in the spotlight you will do absolutely anything to make the best of it. I have more to lose here. And that makes me more desperate. But I’m not expecting you to be a pushover. I expect for sixty minutes for you to bring everything you have in the tank. I'm expecting you to break out moves, you haven't used in the WGWF. I'm you to try anything to get the victory.
I know I’ll have to work, and I know I’ll have to work probably as hard as ever. But I will work hard, and I will win. It’s as simple as that. Cause I don't have sixty minutes in you to beat me. I'm not losing this Intercontinental title. As you keep driving home, how much you want this title. How much you want this victory. But your want will never exceed my NEED. I NEED this title. I NEED to win this match.
I can't go back. I just can't go back down to where I was.
So Monday night, all I ask from you is to leave it all in the ring. I want no excuses when I walk out after sixty minutes of hell, STILL the WGWF Intercontinental champion."
And the scene fades to black.