Post by The Dragon on Dec 17, 2022 13:09:33 GMT -5
Part 1 - The Other Woman.
Show me how it ends, it's alright
Show me how defenseless you really are
Satisfied and empty inside
that's alright, let's give this another try
It's crazy how strange it can be when you meet a person for the first time, and it feels like you’re looking in the mirror.
It's scary when you don't like the person looking back at you.
That’s how I felt immediately after that ‘lunch date’ with Julia.
Her presence in this was unexpected. I’d found where he worked. It was the one shred of information Joanie’s friend had, the name of her husband, and from there, it’d developed. Evolved into some half-cocked plan where I’d show up and figure it out as I went. I’d gone down there, made a scene, threatened to start permanently rearranging some furniture unless they took me to Chester Hamilton. That seemed to amuse the blonde, who’d heard it all unfold and intervened, getting me out of there so we could talk properly.
Within minutes it was clear we were both trying to size each other up. Work out how useful we could be to one another. She was the other woman. The one cast aside upon Joanie’s return to her husband. The fact she was rejected seemed to not even register, no emotional connection. That’s what tipped me off, it was clear she would do anything she had to, as long as it meant she got what she wanted.
It didn't matter who got hurt, or how it happened, or if the prize actually wanted her in the first place…as long as she got to hold the trophy.
It was that kind of one-track-mindedness that I applied to my own career. It was the same instinct that had me crashing a taxi driver’s cab for livestreaming me without permission. It was the same mindset that had me questioning the parenting ability of a good friend, and next opponent, for the sole purpose of throwing them off their game. Which worked, by the way.
Julia was, undeniably, one hell of an ugly person on the inside.
Maybe she saw the same in me.
Maybe I was seeing shades of myself in her.
But this was different.
I've been sitting outside of the address Julia gave me for what felt like hours. In reality, it might only have been a minute or two. After all, I only had a finite window to get…something to happen, set some wheels in motion. She would go back to the office and distract Chester. I was free to talk to Joanie, until I got the signal that he was on his way. We’d communicate often, but meet little, to prevent arousing suspicion.
This was for her own good.
The seeds for this had been sown long before Joanie high-tailed it out of New York without a word. From our first meeting, our blind date…she’d hinted at why she’d run away in the first place, the slightest of hints, moments of silence that spoke a thousand words all by themselves. It took time, a lot of time into our friendship…she was hurting and she was scarred…I could tell that but I didn’t know why. Not really.
It was months before I found out how much of a monster Chester Hamilton could be.
She’d thank me for this.
She was being manipulated, she had to be, there’s no way she would go back into his arms willingly. He had something on her, something he could laud over her, some threat, some ransom, it was the only explanation. I’d talk to Joanie, she’d tell me what it is, and I could go about putting that right, make sure nobody got hurt, nobody got blackmailed…
No scratch that first thing I said, Julia and I with nothing alike.
I’m saving someone. I’m HELPING someone.
It’s all about appearances, it had to be. Julia said they looked happy…looked…but a lot of people can look anything they want if it’s for their benefit, if it’s for their own survival…they can’t actually be happy…I remember in that moment I was sitting there thinking I don’t care, even if it was true, she might be happy now…but what about in a week, a month? What about when he turns on her like he always does and then she’s in too deep and there’s no way out…
I’m no human psychology expert…but I know hearing one of your friends is happy should be a good thing…but I know better…she knew it too…when she told me…she sat across that table, studying my face…watching as it didn’t change…if anything it hardened…as she thought that would make me even more determined to tear it up, destroy everything they had…but no it just meant I had to work faster…in case Joanie started to believe the lies she was telling herself. What if she started to believe she did actually love him.
This is the right thing to do.
I have a good instinct about this sort of thing. I can read people. I’m never wrong.
I’m not wrong about this. Definitely not.
I looked Julia square in the eyes across the table. I told her, with the same conviction I would wear when talking about my next match, my next opponent, my next title. I told her Joanie would be leaving with me. I’d get her out of there. I’d make her see sense, and I would save her. It wasn’t the kind of victory I was used to, but in the end…helping people I cared about? Maybe that was enough of a prize.
I’ve been described as selfish. Controlling. Narcissistic…but then again, I’ve been known to have a hero complex too. Surely one counteracts the other? Maybe the hero complex only kicks in when the person or thing that needs saving I value even more than I value myself? Maybe I put myself first…right up to the point when somebody else needs to go top of the list for a while. Someone in my circle. Someone deserving.
Maybe I’m not as bad as people think I am.
Maybe I’m not as bad as I think I am.
Maybe there will come a time when some life event will push me permanently into second place.
Maybe my main focus will shift from my own success, to something like…making good memories for my kids?
I think when…if, that happens? That’ll be the end of my wrestling career as I know it. I won’t have the drive. The determination. The single-minded need to get what I want. With no exceptions.
Until then? I was going to take full advantage.
I was going to get what I wanted.
I was going in.
Part 2 - Choose Violence.
Its just one of those days
Feeling like a freight train
First one to complain
Leaves with a bloodstain
Damn right I'm a maniac
You better watch your back
The following clip is an edited “stream highlights” package released from a Twitch livestream hosted by Mark “The Dragon” Cross on twitch.tv/UnleashZeDragon in the past week.
So contrary to popular belief, I do understand the concept of live streaming. As a matter of fact, and as you can see right now, I’ve had my own Twitch channel for a number of years, and gaming is a kind of guilty pleasure of mine. Sadly it’s something that I’ve never really been able to commit to a proper schedule for, what with training and travel and all…and since it’s been six months since my last stream…but I figure after the whole “Uber thing” happened, it reminded me that I should probably check in with you guys…and dispel a few myths about how I’m old before my time, or whatever.
With a click of the mouse, the scene changes from a “STARTING SOON” screen, complete with a professionally-designed streaming package, including the ‘Miami-vice’ style logo shown on a lot of Mark’s merchandise.
Now as tempting as it is to try and smash through a no-guns playthrough of Callisto Protocol tonight, there are other matters at hand. I’m back in Vegas on Monday night, CCPE Arena for Brawl, and I’ve got some work to do. It's good to see that I've signed up with another organisation that puts consumer capitalism above all else, but I don't know why I'm surprised. The West Coast Rumble is gonna be one of the biggest things to happen since the reboot, so let's milk every cent from it that we can, shall we? Perfect.
That’s no problem. I’ll tread the company line and play ball.
People talk a lot around here about what the ‘business’ is, but let’s talk instead about something a little more topical. The reason we’re here. Let me talk to you about my plan for the Rumble and while I do it? I’ll touch on what it’s like to be a CHAMPION.
I’ll be claiming that single fall. I’ll be the first man into the Rumble, and much like Monday night at Brawl? I’ll beat out every single person on my way to victory. That’s the Tweet.
This is supposed to be an advantage, go in last, snag the spoils, but in doing that it defeats the purpose. Being the champion means something. Being the champion means defeating everything in your path. Being the champion means no easy routes. Being the champion means being better than anyone else, and proving it constantly.
I’ll prove that before I even capture the damn title, by running through them all.
I've already threatened that this was gonna happen when you saw my little video package. I've already started showing what I can do in the ring. I’ve already stepped in with Samantha Voxx and that ended 1-2-3. Exactly how I drew it up.
When Page brought me here, I can tell you one thing for certain. Priority number one wasn't to try and sell more tickets off the back of my name. That kind of ship might have sailed a little better out in Japan where my approach is a little more desirable but here that's not what my reputation is built on. In the almighty US of A, and especially under the bright lights of Sin City where I return to ply my trade again, my MO is shutting down opponent after opponent after opponent. Current champions, former champions, 7-time Hall of Famers? I couldn't give a fuck.
They all fall to me eventually. Without fail.
Since the doors reopened, there’s been a whole lot of names bounced around for those that should be involved in the World title picture, all dancing around each other and picking sides in some weird little tango thing and we’re supposed to sit back and say yeah, those are the guys that can really drive the division forward! Who’s gonna come out on top.
Not a single one of them. You're looking in the wrong place.
Not granted, there have been some guys that have been looking to make a splash. Yet all they've really succeeded in doing is showing their hands too early. I love predictability. It makes game planning so much easier. And that's why We can come back to Samantha and instead we'll start with something that every great company has. It’s my own broken record.
Fred Debonair. “Mr. It's All Business It's All Business”. Yeah, no shit dude, it’s why we get paid for this and take money for tickets. Of course it’s a business. Not only do you like to remind us every week, you remind us of something that’s so obvious, it doesn’t bear repeating. Not even once. Let me cut to the chase, with a British-ism or two, because I’ve got plenty of competitors to go through, and not a lot of words.
You're barking up the wrong tree mate.
There’s a saying, I don't know if it’s British or not, but I'm going to use it. Horses for courses. You see you're out here so worried about Mac Bane. Mac Bane, who isn’t in the Rumble. Mac Bane, still working to score a win. Mac Bane, who's had a measurable success in his overall wrestling career, but is still waiting to get on the board here at WGWF. Mac Bane, who can do it a short hop away in my old stomping ground of Sin City Wrestling, but hasn’t been able to produce the results here.
Now, I don't know if you managed to catch Mac’s WGWF Rundown with Denise Essex on Dark, but there's one curious thing that he said from that interview. Now I imagine that you've done some digging into his past history and probably know about all the titles that he's been able to collect, and all the Hall of Fame inductions that he's been able to amass over the course of a career that is pretty damn decorated to say the least. I think a lot of people would take the career that Mac has been able to carve out, right?
I can even see why you’d aim your crosshairs at him. You see the threat.
But my reference to Dark? Is about his crowning glory in this business.
Now someone of Mac’s calibre probably steps into the ring thinking he can beat virtually anyone right? There's nobody he particularly has to fear in this industry. So you would think, if he happens to select anyone, one-on-one, that a victory over would count as his single crowning achievement? It's probably someone who would expect to lose to, what, 7/8 times out of 10?
Even compared to his own ability, his own incredible career, there’s someone he thinks is different gravy. And who’s name did he mention?
Mark “The Dragon” Cross.
Now you can go backwards and forwards with Mac as much as you like about whether it's bell to bell or if it’s an overall picture…whether it’s business or personal…zero fucks given…
Because Mac’s single greatest scalp, however long he’s been in this industry, is ready and waiting to show you what ‘just business’ is really about. The man who took three finishers before he finally went away. Actions will definitely speak louder than words.
You can ask Samantha about that, because she's been relatively quiet before after my debut match. You can ask her if she fears the big long list of wrestlers that she was so concerned about in the World Series of Wrestling still, or if she’d rather not repeat that performance with me all over again, instead. I promised I wasn’t going to be nice. I promised I wouldn’t go easy and you know what? Maybe it’s better that way. Maybe she won’t be thrown to this wolf anytime soon and maybe on Brawl…maybe in the Rumble…I won’t feel the need to make quite as much of an example of her.
After all…this business is all about setting examples and good discipline right MIKE ANGELO?
Like…are you good, dude? Are you screaming at this Riley guy who doesn’t appear to be on the roster, last time I checked, and sure as hell isn’t on the list for the Rumble soooooo…are you focussed on this? Am I gonna have to click my fingers in front of your face to make you hit me or something? Now…I don’t want anyone to kink shame me here, but I’m not one of those guys that misread Fifty Shades, thinking you just have to beat up real good on a girl and then you can call yourself the next Christian fucking Grey. No. It’s better when they scratch and bite, that makes me bite back harder, and me with wrestling isn’t a whole lot different. Hell, I’ll change my name to Riley or wear a mask with his face on or something if it’s going to make you FOCUS ON SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY YOUR OPPONENT.
Thanks for the history lesson pal, but I think I’ve gotten all I need. What was it, why are you here? Gambling addiction, drugs? Did the money run out? Is that why you want to try and recapture the old glories? Come on, let us in on the real secret. Right now you have one win to your name, against some rookie who you quite literally taught everything she knows, by the sound of it, and the same old axes to grind from what, twenty fucking years ago? Okay…so your ring work is rusty…you’re here for the wrong reasons…kind of…painting targets on all the wrong backs, people who aren’t here, people too busy with their own agendas to even look your way right now and to top it all off? How do we know you even have the minerals for this business anymore?
Now I've seen plenty of guys on their comeback trail and unfortunately? The chance of success it's almost as tough as breaking into the business the first time around. It's tough because you're fighting against your former self, and chances are that your former self is probably in a much better spot than you are now. Old you would have been in one spot and you're half a step behind. Your former self would have been half a second sooner, the difference between a two point five and a three. Plus the expectation is much higher. They want the old you, and they get some shadow, some shell. You said it yourself, rookies in this business…even though you don't get much of a window to get your foot in the door and stay there, they don't expect the world from you, they expect you to get your ass handed to you. That’s how you learn in this business. Plus, you’re young, you can bounce back, but to do it two decades later, all over again? Is it worth it?
Have you even got that motivation?
Or is it better to call it quits? Find yourself another Addison, live vicariously through them, ride their coat-tails while they go through the punishment, pick them up and make them go again…playing that game that passed you by. Think about it.
See…only those that stick around can afford to take their foot off the gas, and that leads us to last but not least…John Cable and his army of ‘Breeders’...ugh I’m gonna get cancelled for how kinky this whole thing is getting. Breeders? Really? Sons up and down the country telling their Moms that they’re Breeders…Dads needing to have the birds and the bees talk with said son with EXTRA EMPHASIS on the part about always wearing protection as everyone’s worried about the next wave of teen pregnancy. Wow wow wow…we’re scraping some barrels here, huh? Any hope of keeping a family-friendly product is long gone…
But it’s just a name, right? Yet…that’s all it is. A name. A catchy, cliche name. For some ‘warrior’ in a suit, who wants to get into the movie business. A slogan to slap on a coffee mug, so someone feels a little more badass when they’re doing taxes for some guy who makes more in a week than they do in a year. Maybe of…I don’t know…some dude who calls himself a Beast while he pumps ‘plenty of money’ into all these side projects. Consumer capitalism all over again and what a surprise? This dude’s a major investor.
He watched some TikTok videos on side hustles and now he’s all the way in.
You know what, pal? I’m even going to send you my appearance fee this week, Mr. John Cable, because I’d love to pay for the privilege to take you down a peg or two. Oh, and that’s preferably before you compare me to some fucking rare vintage barstool that Elvis sat on in Memphis or something. Like…WHO DOES THAT, really?
Since when did you become some pathetic fucking excuse for a competitor, anyway? You see the thing that grinds my gears the most, in everyday life? It’s people who are disingenuous. People who forget where they came from. People who claim to be one thing with their words and act the complete polar opposite, acting as if we’re not gonna notice.
Orphans...
Survivors...
Fighters...
Warriors…
Downright. Fucking. Liars.
I am a selfish, narcissistic asshole, who believes the world revolves around me, and that I should have everything I want. I think that’s my right, and I won’t accept the opinion of anyone who tells me I shouldn’t. Sometimes I’ll try and find some excuse, like I’m doing it for the benefit of others and you know what, on occasion? Something like…I’m gonna shut John Cable up, it’ll do us all a favour, and in times like that it probably will work in the favour of others too…but in reality I believe they’re some pawns in my little game, that I can move around and control.
My words say I want to win every single match. I want to beat every single opponent on Brawl, and then I want to beat every single opponent in the Rumble.
My actions?
Well…we’ll have to wait and see…but there are a hundred or more victims you can go and ask about whether I follow up with actions or not. I’m sure they’ll agree.
One thing I can promise you, is as long as I am in this business, wrestling is my side project, wrestling is my main project, wrestling is my only fucking project. I train right every day, I eat right every day, I recover right every day, this is how it has always been. A decade or more, without fail, this is how I conduct myself. I don't care who you are, what you achieved, what your goals are, what your dreams and aspirations are when you’re out of this business. Only thing I care about? What I want? Is a win, every time I’m in the ring.
If you’re not about that life? You’re going to have a hard time keeping up.
When you earned that Beast title, John? That’s exactly what you were. Your sole focus. Nothing could stand in your way, nothing else was more important than picking up that ‘dub. You and I, we’ve been around a long time. We’re both sitting on the piles of cash this business helped us amass and all…but you’re the only one who stopped to count it.
I'm gonna let that sink in.
To some…to many…this is a bit of a ‘nothing’ match. After all, no matter where the winner puts themselves…this isn’t the Rumble, right? Anything can happen on the night. Well that’s very true. Trust me, I’m not playing tactically. I’m not worried about showing my hand, letting any of my opponents in on trade secrets, I’m in that ring to show out. I’m setting the precedent, now. I’m being the man to beat, now. I’m making my mark, now. There’s no warming up, no easing in, no finding my feet. I’m ready to take that World Heavyweight Championship and I’m ready to lead from the front. I’m looking to set records that’ll take years to break, if they’re even ready at all.
No light work. No easy matches. No nights off.
What you’re about to witness is a masterclass in powerful, technical wrestling. There’s a lot of great men and women, great champions in this company but very few can turn the whole tide of a match in one, two moves like I can. Few can dominate like I can. Few can win like I win.
I may have a lot to say, for someone who’s all about getting it done in the ring but you know what sets me apart from most everybody else?
I ALWAYS back it up.
The image cuts away to a “STREAM ENDING” graphic for a few moments, before the scene fades to black.
Show me how it ends, it's alright
Show me how defenseless you really are
Satisfied and empty inside
that's alright, let's give this another try
It's crazy how strange it can be when you meet a person for the first time, and it feels like you’re looking in the mirror.
It's scary when you don't like the person looking back at you.
That’s how I felt immediately after that ‘lunch date’ with Julia.
Her presence in this was unexpected. I’d found where he worked. It was the one shred of information Joanie’s friend had, the name of her husband, and from there, it’d developed. Evolved into some half-cocked plan where I’d show up and figure it out as I went. I’d gone down there, made a scene, threatened to start permanently rearranging some furniture unless they took me to Chester Hamilton. That seemed to amuse the blonde, who’d heard it all unfold and intervened, getting me out of there so we could talk properly.
Within minutes it was clear we were both trying to size each other up. Work out how useful we could be to one another. She was the other woman. The one cast aside upon Joanie’s return to her husband. The fact she was rejected seemed to not even register, no emotional connection. That’s what tipped me off, it was clear she would do anything she had to, as long as it meant she got what she wanted.
It didn't matter who got hurt, or how it happened, or if the prize actually wanted her in the first place…as long as she got to hold the trophy.
It was that kind of one-track-mindedness that I applied to my own career. It was the same instinct that had me crashing a taxi driver’s cab for livestreaming me without permission. It was the same mindset that had me questioning the parenting ability of a good friend, and next opponent, for the sole purpose of throwing them off their game. Which worked, by the way.
Julia was, undeniably, one hell of an ugly person on the inside.
Maybe she saw the same in me.
Maybe I was seeing shades of myself in her.
But this was different.
I've been sitting outside of the address Julia gave me for what felt like hours. In reality, it might only have been a minute or two. After all, I only had a finite window to get…something to happen, set some wheels in motion. She would go back to the office and distract Chester. I was free to talk to Joanie, until I got the signal that he was on his way. We’d communicate often, but meet little, to prevent arousing suspicion.
This was for her own good.
The seeds for this had been sown long before Joanie high-tailed it out of New York without a word. From our first meeting, our blind date…she’d hinted at why she’d run away in the first place, the slightest of hints, moments of silence that spoke a thousand words all by themselves. It took time, a lot of time into our friendship…she was hurting and she was scarred…I could tell that but I didn’t know why. Not really.
It was months before I found out how much of a monster Chester Hamilton could be.
She’d thank me for this.
She was being manipulated, she had to be, there’s no way she would go back into his arms willingly. He had something on her, something he could laud over her, some threat, some ransom, it was the only explanation. I’d talk to Joanie, she’d tell me what it is, and I could go about putting that right, make sure nobody got hurt, nobody got blackmailed…
No scratch that first thing I said, Julia and I with nothing alike.
I’m saving someone. I’m HELPING someone.
It’s all about appearances, it had to be. Julia said they looked happy…looked…but a lot of people can look anything they want if it’s for their benefit, if it’s for their own survival…they can’t actually be happy…I remember in that moment I was sitting there thinking I don’t care, even if it was true, she might be happy now…but what about in a week, a month? What about when he turns on her like he always does and then she’s in too deep and there’s no way out…
I’m no human psychology expert…but I know hearing one of your friends is happy should be a good thing…but I know better…she knew it too…when she told me…she sat across that table, studying my face…watching as it didn’t change…if anything it hardened…as she thought that would make me even more determined to tear it up, destroy everything they had…but no it just meant I had to work faster…in case Joanie started to believe the lies she was telling herself. What if she started to believe she did actually love him.
This is the right thing to do.
I have a good instinct about this sort of thing. I can read people. I’m never wrong.
I’m not wrong about this. Definitely not.
I looked Julia square in the eyes across the table. I told her, with the same conviction I would wear when talking about my next match, my next opponent, my next title. I told her Joanie would be leaving with me. I’d get her out of there. I’d make her see sense, and I would save her. It wasn’t the kind of victory I was used to, but in the end…helping people I cared about? Maybe that was enough of a prize.
I’ve been described as selfish. Controlling. Narcissistic…but then again, I’ve been known to have a hero complex too. Surely one counteracts the other? Maybe the hero complex only kicks in when the person or thing that needs saving I value even more than I value myself? Maybe I put myself first…right up to the point when somebody else needs to go top of the list for a while. Someone in my circle. Someone deserving.
Maybe I’m not as bad as people think I am.
Maybe I’m not as bad as I think I am.
Maybe there will come a time when some life event will push me permanently into second place.
Maybe my main focus will shift from my own success, to something like…making good memories for my kids?
I think when…if, that happens? That’ll be the end of my wrestling career as I know it. I won’t have the drive. The determination. The single-minded need to get what I want. With no exceptions.
Until then? I was going to take full advantage.
I was going to get what I wanted.
I was going in.
Part 2 - Choose Violence.
Its just one of those days
Feeling like a freight train
First one to complain
Leaves with a bloodstain
Damn right I'm a maniac
You better watch your back
The following clip is an edited “stream highlights” package released from a Twitch livestream hosted by Mark “The Dragon” Cross on twitch.tv/UnleashZeDragon in the past week.
So contrary to popular belief, I do understand the concept of live streaming. As a matter of fact, and as you can see right now, I’ve had my own Twitch channel for a number of years, and gaming is a kind of guilty pleasure of mine. Sadly it’s something that I’ve never really been able to commit to a proper schedule for, what with training and travel and all…and since it’s been six months since my last stream…but I figure after the whole “Uber thing” happened, it reminded me that I should probably check in with you guys…and dispel a few myths about how I’m old before my time, or whatever.
With a click of the mouse, the scene changes from a “STARTING SOON” screen, complete with a professionally-designed streaming package, including the ‘Miami-vice’ style logo shown on a lot of Mark’s merchandise.
Now as tempting as it is to try and smash through a no-guns playthrough of Callisto Protocol tonight, there are other matters at hand. I’m back in Vegas on Monday night, CCPE Arena for Brawl, and I’ve got some work to do. It's good to see that I've signed up with another organisation that puts consumer capitalism above all else, but I don't know why I'm surprised. The West Coast Rumble is gonna be one of the biggest things to happen since the reboot, so let's milk every cent from it that we can, shall we? Perfect.
That’s no problem. I’ll tread the company line and play ball.
People talk a lot around here about what the ‘business’ is, but let’s talk instead about something a little more topical. The reason we’re here. Let me talk to you about my plan for the Rumble and while I do it? I’ll touch on what it’s like to be a CHAMPION.
I’ll be claiming that single fall. I’ll be the first man into the Rumble, and much like Monday night at Brawl? I’ll beat out every single person on my way to victory. That’s the Tweet.
This is supposed to be an advantage, go in last, snag the spoils, but in doing that it defeats the purpose. Being the champion means something. Being the champion means defeating everything in your path. Being the champion means no easy routes. Being the champion means being better than anyone else, and proving it constantly.
I’ll prove that before I even capture the damn title, by running through them all.
I've already threatened that this was gonna happen when you saw my little video package. I've already started showing what I can do in the ring. I’ve already stepped in with Samantha Voxx and that ended 1-2-3. Exactly how I drew it up.
When Page brought me here, I can tell you one thing for certain. Priority number one wasn't to try and sell more tickets off the back of my name. That kind of ship might have sailed a little better out in Japan where my approach is a little more desirable but here that's not what my reputation is built on. In the almighty US of A, and especially under the bright lights of Sin City where I return to ply my trade again, my MO is shutting down opponent after opponent after opponent. Current champions, former champions, 7-time Hall of Famers? I couldn't give a fuck.
They all fall to me eventually. Without fail.
Since the doors reopened, there’s been a whole lot of names bounced around for those that should be involved in the World title picture, all dancing around each other and picking sides in some weird little tango thing and we’re supposed to sit back and say yeah, those are the guys that can really drive the division forward! Who’s gonna come out on top.
Not a single one of them. You're looking in the wrong place.
Not granted, there have been some guys that have been looking to make a splash. Yet all they've really succeeded in doing is showing their hands too early. I love predictability. It makes game planning so much easier. And that's why We can come back to Samantha and instead we'll start with something that every great company has. It’s my own broken record.
Fred Debonair. “Mr. It's All Business It's All Business”. Yeah, no shit dude, it’s why we get paid for this and take money for tickets. Of course it’s a business. Not only do you like to remind us every week, you remind us of something that’s so obvious, it doesn’t bear repeating. Not even once. Let me cut to the chase, with a British-ism or two, because I’ve got plenty of competitors to go through, and not a lot of words.
You're barking up the wrong tree mate.
There’s a saying, I don't know if it’s British or not, but I'm going to use it. Horses for courses. You see you're out here so worried about Mac Bane. Mac Bane, who isn’t in the Rumble. Mac Bane, still working to score a win. Mac Bane, who's had a measurable success in his overall wrestling career, but is still waiting to get on the board here at WGWF. Mac Bane, who can do it a short hop away in my old stomping ground of Sin City Wrestling, but hasn’t been able to produce the results here.
Now, I don't know if you managed to catch Mac’s WGWF Rundown with Denise Essex on Dark, but there's one curious thing that he said from that interview. Now I imagine that you've done some digging into his past history and probably know about all the titles that he's been able to collect, and all the Hall of Fame inductions that he's been able to amass over the course of a career that is pretty damn decorated to say the least. I think a lot of people would take the career that Mac has been able to carve out, right?
I can even see why you’d aim your crosshairs at him. You see the threat.
But my reference to Dark? Is about his crowning glory in this business.
Now someone of Mac’s calibre probably steps into the ring thinking he can beat virtually anyone right? There's nobody he particularly has to fear in this industry. So you would think, if he happens to select anyone, one-on-one, that a victory over would count as his single crowning achievement? It's probably someone who would expect to lose to, what, 7/8 times out of 10?
Even compared to his own ability, his own incredible career, there’s someone he thinks is different gravy. And who’s name did he mention?
Mark “The Dragon” Cross.
Now you can go backwards and forwards with Mac as much as you like about whether it's bell to bell or if it’s an overall picture…whether it’s business or personal…zero fucks given…
Because Mac’s single greatest scalp, however long he’s been in this industry, is ready and waiting to show you what ‘just business’ is really about. The man who took three finishers before he finally went away. Actions will definitely speak louder than words.
You can ask Samantha about that, because she's been relatively quiet before after my debut match. You can ask her if she fears the big long list of wrestlers that she was so concerned about in the World Series of Wrestling still, or if she’d rather not repeat that performance with me all over again, instead. I promised I wasn’t going to be nice. I promised I wouldn’t go easy and you know what? Maybe it’s better that way. Maybe she won’t be thrown to this wolf anytime soon and maybe on Brawl…maybe in the Rumble…I won’t feel the need to make quite as much of an example of her.
After all…this business is all about setting examples and good discipline right MIKE ANGELO?
Like…are you good, dude? Are you screaming at this Riley guy who doesn’t appear to be on the roster, last time I checked, and sure as hell isn’t on the list for the Rumble soooooo…are you focussed on this? Am I gonna have to click my fingers in front of your face to make you hit me or something? Now…I don’t want anyone to kink shame me here, but I’m not one of those guys that misread Fifty Shades, thinking you just have to beat up real good on a girl and then you can call yourself the next Christian fucking Grey. No. It’s better when they scratch and bite, that makes me bite back harder, and me with wrestling isn’t a whole lot different. Hell, I’ll change my name to Riley or wear a mask with his face on or something if it’s going to make you FOCUS ON SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY YOUR OPPONENT.
Thanks for the history lesson pal, but I think I’ve gotten all I need. What was it, why are you here? Gambling addiction, drugs? Did the money run out? Is that why you want to try and recapture the old glories? Come on, let us in on the real secret. Right now you have one win to your name, against some rookie who you quite literally taught everything she knows, by the sound of it, and the same old axes to grind from what, twenty fucking years ago? Okay…so your ring work is rusty…you’re here for the wrong reasons…kind of…painting targets on all the wrong backs, people who aren’t here, people too busy with their own agendas to even look your way right now and to top it all off? How do we know you even have the minerals for this business anymore?
Now I've seen plenty of guys on their comeback trail and unfortunately? The chance of success it's almost as tough as breaking into the business the first time around. It's tough because you're fighting against your former self, and chances are that your former self is probably in a much better spot than you are now. Old you would have been in one spot and you're half a step behind. Your former self would have been half a second sooner, the difference between a two point five and a three. Plus the expectation is much higher. They want the old you, and they get some shadow, some shell. You said it yourself, rookies in this business…even though you don't get much of a window to get your foot in the door and stay there, they don't expect the world from you, they expect you to get your ass handed to you. That’s how you learn in this business. Plus, you’re young, you can bounce back, but to do it two decades later, all over again? Is it worth it?
Have you even got that motivation?
Or is it better to call it quits? Find yourself another Addison, live vicariously through them, ride their coat-tails while they go through the punishment, pick them up and make them go again…playing that game that passed you by. Think about it.
See…only those that stick around can afford to take their foot off the gas, and that leads us to last but not least…John Cable and his army of ‘Breeders’...ugh I’m gonna get cancelled for how kinky this whole thing is getting. Breeders? Really? Sons up and down the country telling their Moms that they’re Breeders…Dads needing to have the birds and the bees talk with said son with EXTRA EMPHASIS on the part about always wearing protection as everyone’s worried about the next wave of teen pregnancy. Wow wow wow…we’re scraping some barrels here, huh? Any hope of keeping a family-friendly product is long gone…
But it’s just a name, right? Yet…that’s all it is. A name. A catchy, cliche name. For some ‘warrior’ in a suit, who wants to get into the movie business. A slogan to slap on a coffee mug, so someone feels a little more badass when they’re doing taxes for some guy who makes more in a week than they do in a year. Maybe of…I don’t know…some dude who calls himself a Beast while he pumps ‘plenty of money’ into all these side projects. Consumer capitalism all over again and what a surprise? This dude’s a major investor.
He watched some TikTok videos on side hustles and now he’s all the way in.
You know what, pal? I’m even going to send you my appearance fee this week, Mr. John Cable, because I’d love to pay for the privilege to take you down a peg or two. Oh, and that’s preferably before you compare me to some fucking rare vintage barstool that Elvis sat on in Memphis or something. Like…WHO DOES THAT, really?
Since when did you become some pathetic fucking excuse for a competitor, anyway? You see the thing that grinds my gears the most, in everyday life? It’s people who are disingenuous. People who forget where they came from. People who claim to be one thing with their words and act the complete polar opposite, acting as if we’re not gonna notice.
Orphans...
Survivors...
Fighters...
Warriors…
Downright. Fucking. Liars.
I am a selfish, narcissistic asshole, who believes the world revolves around me, and that I should have everything I want. I think that’s my right, and I won’t accept the opinion of anyone who tells me I shouldn’t. Sometimes I’ll try and find some excuse, like I’m doing it for the benefit of others and you know what, on occasion? Something like…I’m gonna shut John Cable up, it’ll do us all a favour, and in times like that it probably will work in the favour of others too…but in reality I believe they’re some pawns in my little game, that I can move around and control.
My words say I want to win every single match. I want to beat every single opponent on Brawl, and then I want to beat every single opponent in the Rumble.
My actions?
Well…we’ll have to wait and see…but there are a hundred or more victims you can go and ask about whether I follow up with actions or not. I’m sure they’ll agree.
One thing I can promise you, is as long as I am in this business, wrestling is my side project, wrestling is my main project, wrestling is my only fucking project. I train right every day, I eat right every day, I recover right every day, this is how it has always been. A decade or more, without fail, this is how I conduct myself. I don't care who you are, what you achieved, what your goals are, what your dreams and aspirations are when you’re out of this business. Only thing I care about? What I want? Is a win, every time I’m in the ring.
If you’re not about that life? You’re going to have a hard time keeping up.
When you earned that Beast title, John? That’s exactly what you were. Your sole focus. Nothing could stand in your way, nothing else was more important than picking up that ‘dub. You and I, we’ve been around a long time. We’re both sitting on the piles of cash this business helped us amass and all…but you’re the only one who stopped to count it.
I'm gonna let that sink in.
To some…to many…this is a bit of a ‘nothing’ match. After all, no matter where the winner puts themselves…this isn’t the Rumble, right? Anything can happen on the night. Well that’s very true. Trust me, I’m not playing tactically. I’m not worried about showing my hand, letting any of my opponents in on trade secrets, I’m in that ring to show out. I’m setting the precedent, now. I’m being the man to beat, now. I’m making my mark, now. There’s no warming up, no easing in, no finding my feet. I’m ready to take that World Heavyweight Championship and I’m ready to lead from the front. I’m looking to set records that’ll take years to break, if they’re even ready at all.
No light work. No easy matches. No nights off.
What you’re about to witness is a masterclass in powerful, technical wrestling. There’s a lot of great men and women, great champions in this company but very few can turn the whole tide of a match in one, two moves like I can. Few can dominate like I can. Few can win like I win.
I may have a lot to say, for someone who’s all about getting it done in the ring but you know what sets me apart from most everybody else?
I ALWAYS back it up.
The image cuts away to a “STREAM ENDING” graphic for a few moments, before the scene fades to black.