Post by Peter Vaughn on Mar 2, 2024 23:01:24 GMT -5
~The picture comes up on a sky-high view of the PMV Ranch, a sprawling set of land that Peter Vaughn purchased over a year ago, using the $3 million he won in the PW Valor tournament. It has undergone a lot of changes over the last year. New structures built. Fencing and gates put up for the hard-fought cattle now roaming the land. But the camera moves past the main ranching area, heading into the slightly wilder stretch behind it. As the camera continues on, we find a small camping area set up near a cliff. We can see a well-constructed tent set up near a campfire, burning away. Sitting on the campfire, supported by a few lines, are some cooking fish, freshly caught earlier in the day. As the drone gets close to the tent, we see Peter Vaughn step out, dusting himself off. He takes note of the camera, smirking at it.~
Peter Vaughn: Well, well, well. You found me. I was actually enjoying some away time for once, leaving the business in my fiance's hands. But I should have known the WGWF cameras would find a way. You guys should work for the government, you know that?
~Vaughn steps over to the fire, checking on his fish. He maneuvers them over to the side, putting them in a pot... which he then puts back over the fire, cooking them a slightly different way now. It's an old trick he learned back in the day, on various camping trips he took with his father back in the day. It was the cheapest activity the two of them could do, which made it the trips they took the most often. In any case, it's a trip that Vaughn still does today, when he thinks to think.~
Peter Vaughn: You know, I think back to how I dominated the WGWF in 2023. I was everywhere. I won the West Coast Rumble, I became the first International Champion of the new era, and I defended that belt throughout the year. I really took this company and put it on my back, and it turned out... it wasn't that appreciated by the masses. Maybe that's just the way things work. Maybe a guy who started out as a lowly janitor could never be the fan's pick for the greatest star in the company. But I still stand proud of all that I accomplished there... and all that might still come in the future.
!Vaughn steps to the side, grabbing an envelope from the top of a camping chair. He takes a seat, opening the envelope and looking it over.~
Peter Vaughn: "You will be fighting for the vacated Intercontinental Title in a Fatal Fourway match against CJ Phoenix, Devlin Knight, and Tristan Slater." This is what I've become in the WGWF: a special appearance wrestler. It's where they can randomly tell me that I'm going to be competing for a championship, while they hope fervently that I do not come out the winner. Because they know, in their heart of hearts, that if I become the Intercontinental Champion... I may never drop it again.
!Vaughn smirks again, leaning backwards in the chair as he looks upwards at the darkening sky above.~
Peter Vaughn: After all, I held the WGWF World Title for almost the entire year in the WGWF. I went over 270 days as the SCW Roulette Champion. I have now held the TPW International Championship three times now, and I may never give that title up again. The same might be true about the Outsiders World Championship as well. So when they offer me this opportunity to become the Intercontinental Champion, they know they're taking a risk... one that I will certainly exploit if it comes down to that.
~With that, Vaughn looks over the names again, smiling to himself.~
Peter Vaughn: I won't say they've made it easy, for sure. Devlin Knight has had an extremely successful career despite going through all sorts of time warps and dimensional shifts. The guy has put himself through the wringer, hasn't he? And he would certainly be a worthy Intercontinental Champion, much more than that last guy we had. But does Knight have the spirit to finally achieve something here in the WGWF? Or will his hesitations catch up with him again, stopping him from reaching the top just as it's caused him to struggle elsewhere? Can the Knight finally rise up, or will it stay daytime forever?
~Vaughn pops up, walking over to the fire again to check on the fish. He quickly transitions them from the fire over to a plate. He begins seasoning them, as he continues talking.~
Peter Vaughn: And then there is CJ, who admittedly got the best of me recently. Unlike others, I know that anyone, on any given day, can beat me. I also know that on any other given day, I can take them down as well. And it's a completely different day, CJ. So if he comes into this competition thinking that I'm going to be the weakest link for him to exploit, well, he's going to find out that he's made the biggest mistake of his career. And oh how sweet it would be to pin CJ and watch his face as he realizes the blunder that he's made.
~With the fish made just the way Vaughn wants them, he moves back to the chair, taking a seat. He holds it for now, looking out over the cliff where he's stationed. To some, this is not that impressive. To others, it's an incredible view. It just depends on your own preconceived notions.~
Peter Vaughn: Finally, there's Tristan Slater, the man who's made a living attacking others for people. You ever think you'd reach that point, Tristan? Just being a gun for hire? I always thought you had bigger motivations propelling you forward. But lately, it seems like that's all it's been. You helped me in TPW, and then faded away. You helped Mac win the WGWF World Championship, and then faded away. You went to do it again, and then ol' Robert Main got in your head. You think Robert's going to show up again this week? You think he'll be coming out to attack you once more? You think you're not going to be able to concentrate on this contest? That's what I think, and that's why I'll be targeting you the most. And I can almost guarantee that Mac won't be showing up to return the favor for you... because he's not a gun for hire, like you.
~Vaughn works his fork and knife into the fish, parting it to reveal the perfectly-cooked meat underneath. He smiles.~
Peter Vaughn: Quite frankly, I don't think anyone will be expecting me to walk out of the arena as the Intercontinental Champion. But I'm not walking into this match to be the patsy for any of these other stars. I plan to take all of them for a little Plunge, and if I end up becoming a champion again in the WGWF, then so be it. It'll be another mark in my Hall of Fame career. And who knows where I'll go from there. Maybe even go pay Mac another visit. For now, though, I'm going to enjoy my dinner here in the peace and quiet of the outdoors. You? You can go motor back to your masters and tell them I'll be there on Monday. I'll be there.
~Vaughn turns away from the camera, enjoying his meal, as he prepares for another night in the outdoors, away from everyone. The drone obediently soars upwards, taking note of the area around Vaughn. We can see an animal moving in the background, possibly a wolf, brought in by the smell of the cooking. It steps into view, as Vaughn looks over at it. He sighs, then throws a scrap of food that direction, and the wolf snaps it up, turning away. Vaughn smiles, then keeps eating, as we leave the scene.~