Post by FPV on Nov 11, 2023 23:21:48 GMT -5
FPV RP #7 - Man of the Year
Life has settled pretty nicely after the WGWF draft. Despite coming up short at the Cannabis Cup, I was not pinned or submitted, allowing me to keep a sliver of momentum going into a new era within the world's greatest wrestling federation. Not as much as I would like, but it's something. The more important thing to note of was that I now knew who I would face every week and who to focus my sights on, something I couldn't do with the large roster pre-split.
New championships, a World Title with immediate prestige due to it's namesake, and new opportunities abound. Not only that, but I was on the same roster as the person I came into this federation with, Joule Ortiz. Though neither of us had found the success we were both hoping for, we were still a tight-knit pair, and I made it my goal to help Ortiz out every second I could, same with my brothers in The Guardians, despite them now being a brand away. That's where I found myself a few days ago, on a remote planet with the rest of the crew sparring with Joule, the great Nikola Tesla acting as a reluctant audience gathering data, when my phone began to go off.
New championships, a World Title with immediate prestige due to it's namesake, and new opportunities abound. Not only that, but I was on the same roster as the person I came into this federation with, Joule Ortiz. Though neither of us had found the success we were both hoping for, we were still a tight-knit pair, and I made it my goal to help Ortiz out every second I could, same with my brothers in The Guardians, despite them now being a brand away. That's where I found myself a few days ago, on a remote planet with the rest of the crew sparring with Joule, the great Nikola Tesla acting as a reluctant audience gathering data, when my phone began to go off.
Nikola: Whose blasted device is going off when I'm trying to concentrate?!
FPV: My bad, Nicky. Truth be told I didn't think I'd be able to catch service this far away from Earth.
Joule: Same here, ole' Stuffy. My data plan doesn't cover extraterrestrial calls or texts, I don't think.
Nikola: Imbeciles, the lot of you. I was able to repair your badly damaged leg with technology beyond your comprehension, Franklin. You shouldn't at all be surprised I can boost cellular signals with similar tech, especially with the..."contacts" Omega and Richards keep.
FPV: Well if it's all the same to you Nicky, I'm gonna pop out and take this real quick.
As I grabbed my phone from my bag and made my way to the adjacent room for some privacy, I could hear Tesla balking as I left.
Nikola: And another thing! It's NI. KO. LA. Not "Nicky!!"
With one less angry inventor within earshot, I took a peak at the caller ID. It wasn't any number I recognized, but it did have a New Orleans area code on it. Intrigued if nothing else, I answered.
FPV: Frank Venable speaking.
Voice: Ah yes Mr. Venable, how are you today? LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans here.
I couldn't help but let out a small gasp at this reveal. Though I've always been very charitable to my city, I've never so much as dipped my toe into the realm of politics. Just what kind of business with the mayor of New Orleans want with me.\
FPV: Oh! Well yes Ms. Cantrell, I'm doing just fine thank you.
Cantrell: Excellent! I'm glad to hear that you're just doing fine, because I have some exciting news for you that will make it even better.
FPV: Is that so, ma'am?
Cantrell: Indeed. I'll cut right to the chase Mr. Venable, we here at City Hall have been putting our heads together to figure out who our annual Man of the Year will be for 2023. We took everything done by notable public figures into account, and we decided that with your miraculous return to the ring as well as your unwavering support of local New Orleans businesses, that we've elected to give you the honors! How does "Frank Patrick Venable, Man of the Year" sound?
I nearly dropped my phone in surprise, and while I didn't (thank god), I did let an S-bomb slip out towards the most powerful woman in the city.
FPV: Holy shit, that's....that's incredible, thank you. I'm...kind of at a loss for words if I'm being honest.
Cantrell: Not a problem, you'll have plenty of time to think of what to say, as the ceremony won't be for a week or two. Big ceremony, people toasting you in your honor, the whole nine yards. We're gonna go all out for you, just like you have for us. I'll say for now, keep an eye on your email for more details to come.
FPV: Gotcha. And again, thank you Ms. Cantrell, it's truly an honor.
Cantrell: Of course! I'll keep in touch.
The call ended, terse and brief, just the way I like it. I spent a few seconds just standing there with nothing but excitement running through my brain. I had never started TPG purely for the recognition, just as a way to keep myself afloat after the end of WCF all those years ago. I had truly thought I would live the rest of my professional career as a simple businessman and nothing more. Not only was I back in the ring, but I had come back with the best years of my career in AW and a renewed sense of competition, My business life and my competitive life were in a sense of harmony I could never have imagined. The fact that the city was going to give me props for all of this was the icing on the cake.
After buzzing to myself, I went back to my phone and called up the first person who I thought should hear this news.
After buzzing to myself, I went back to my phone and called up the first person who I thought should hear this news.
Ramon: Hello love. Everything going good up there?
FPV: Things are going very well actually, but the trainings not why I called you. You're never gonna believe the phone call I just got.
Ramon: Considering I just woke up from a three hour nap a few minutes ago, why don't you go ahead and spoil the surprise for me.
FPV: I got a call from the Mayor of New Orleans. They're naming me Man of the Year for 2023. How exciting is that?
There was a brief pause before uproarious laughter from Ramon.
Ramon: Oh darling. You're going to be insufferable the next few weeks, aren't you?
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Life never stops, doesn't it? Heh. Thank you everyone for the continued unwavering support, I've been dark with updates on things the past few days, but it's only because I've been hard at work on various projects both in and out of the ring, including something VERY exciting I can't delve into right now. As it stands now I've finally gotten some time to myself to think a bit on my first match for the newly christened Monday Night Smash.
It's an interesting one, that much is certain. Sam Chatman and Edward Grado, two people truly connected to the hip in many ways. I'll give this to Grado, I'm going to look forward to facing off with him again. We've had only one match between us, a 45 minute Iron Man barn burner, and while I got the W there, Grado did NOT make it easy in the slightest. He threw me so many curveballs in those 45 minutes it made my head spin at times. I won the match that night, but you didn't walk out empty-handed Grado. You won my respect that night.
It ain't all sunshine and roses though, Edward. Because of that match I had with you, I'm coming into this KNOWING just what kind of stuff you're made of and what you can do when the chips are down. Not only that, but I can go back and show Joule that match so she can be in the loop too. We're not leaving room for any surprises on Monday night, Edward. I need to rack up as many wins in this federation as I can, same as you. And with the luck that I've been having lately in that department, I will happily look in the eye and wink at you while I hook your leg for the one, the two and three. Don't take it personal when that happens, Edward. It's just business.
As for your partner Sam, now he REALLY intrigues me. The Lone Wolf of WGWF. Y'know, I can't help but find it highly amusing that someone who calls himself that and has called himself that for over a decade at this point sure has a lot of tag team accomplishments under his belt. More so than me, I'll tell you that much. We're pretty similar there, if I'm being honest. Two super competitive men looking to earn as much gold as a human being can in their lifetime, proving themselves to be among the best. You're perhaps one of the few men who truly gets what makes me tick. So I'll be looking forward to squaring up for the first time on Monday.
I remember bringing you up when I was first going against your friend Edward a month or so back, going on about how uncomfortable he clearly made you at every turn. Now since then I've seen the interactions between you two improve, which is good, and definitely something you'll need if you want to add on to your impressive list of accolades.
Here's the thing, though. You're going up against a team of two wrestlers with no such awkwardness between them. Just two people who take PRIDE in who they are and support each other's careers no matter what. Even with how well (or...maybe the better phrasing is "how better") You two are getting on, deep down inside you're always gonna remember those first impressions, Sam. From everything I heard I'd imagine it'd be damn near impossible to forget all of that. You're gonna remember all the over-the-top gifts, all the public outbursts and all the unwanted attention Grado gave you, and it's gonna cloud you're focus Sam.
THAT is the main difference between you and I. You're clouded by everything this Grado guy has done for you, while I'm juggling at least five different things at any given moment and still make time to give it my all each and every match. THAT is what's gonna get you gold in this company, and THAT is what I intend to do. This tag match is gonna be a declaration of intent, a declaration that Joule Ortiz and Frank Patrick Venable are here to stay on Monday Night Smash. I wonder what awkward declaration you two are going to make if you win this match, and I do NOT intend on finding out Monday.
That's all I have to say for this week though. Keep your eyes peeled on this page in the coming days everyone, exciting news is afoot!
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Epilogue:
Switches came to me in the most awkward of moments, eating dinner by myself. I could hear him quite clearly despite the muffled music in the restraunt.
Switches: Friendo, speak up. Gotta baaaaaaaaaaad premonition you should be keen on.
Thinking quickly, I picked up my phone and pretended to answer an incoming call so as to not make myself look insane.
FPV: What is it? This is hardly the place to be talking to you, y'know?
Switches: Yeah yeah yeah, I ain't gonna eat up too much of your time. Just wanted to tell you to be on the lookout for other clowns.
FPV: You mean like you? In my head?
Switches: HAHA. That would make everything just PEACHY EASY. But no, I'm talking walking world clowns. I can't quite place my pinky finger on it, but somethings just giving my bad vibes and it's got white makeup written all over it.
The ghost clown wasn't making much sense, but I decided to heed him. For now.
FPV: I'll keep that in mind, you absolute weirdo.