Post by cjphoenix on Apr 18, 2024 20:58:16 GMT -5
It's not goodbye forever. It's just farewell for now.
That's what CJ Phoenix kept telling himself internally as he took a walk through what would soon be his former home. Sure, he would still own the place, but the plan would be for it to be used if friends or family were in town and needed a nice place to stay at. Over the last few days, he and Kaiyah have been moving things piece by piece to their new home whenever either of them would go there. Now, there were only a few items left to transfer. While rounding up some of the last of the things he's taking with him, a handful of items bring back memories as he puts them into a container. The first of which was the Alpha Title that he had won in WCF way back in his first year of wrestling. It was a new title, and just as it was his first belt, he was the title’s first champion. The pinnacle of his time there will always remain a vivid memory. CJ places the belt in the bin.
The next item he touches is a bracelet from the World Series of Poker. The reward aside from the money for winning a tournament. Five years ago, CJ became one of the youngest players to ever win a bracelet at the age of 24. A feat that often gets overshadowed by his resurrected wrestling career. Every once in a while, the what if game gets played. What if CJ never got back in the ring after winning that tournament? His poker legacy could be through the roof, but his pro wrestling legacy would've been underwhelming. A forgettable career lost in the shuffle to the point where at this moment in time, people would've been surprised to find out that he was a wrestler.
He could've hung up his boots early, but he wasn't satisfied with how his career was at the time, so he returned to the squared circle to fix it. After he puts the bracelet on his wrist, the last title he stops to look at is the Action Wrestling Hardcore Title. It was the first belt that he won there. His opponent?
SPENCER ADAMS
How ironic is it that the final title that CJ held in that company was the tag team titles alongside the man he faced to win his first title in the company? Truly a full circle moment with the man who is now one of his best friends. If he would've given up on his career back in 2019, the King Shit run of dominance would've never happened. Phoenix smiles as he remembers the battles he had with and against Adams. He half closes the bin and heads down to the basement to see if there was anything leftover. As he walks through the basement, he sees something very familiar. A handmade Monokuma mask. The catalyst to CJ becoming the Luminary of Despair. It feels as if time itself has temporarily frozen. One look at the object triggers so many traumas. Dr. Field and the false memories. Witnessing Field getting shot by Vanessa’s formerly brainwashed older brother. All the stress and sleepless nights took a toll on both his wrestling career and his life. His mental health spiraled out of control. To him, that mask had become a mirror that showed CJ his own despair. He chose not to throw it away because he saw it as a reminder of what his life used to be. A disaster despite him having the best run of his career. That mask haunted him for far too long, but not anymore. He walks back upstairs and places the mask in the bin, closing it completely afterwards.
John Cable...I want to start off by saying thank you. Thanks for being my opponent and for looking out for my bro Spencer Adams while he was here. You're really good, but I'm astronomically phenomenal, and you're gonna witness that when I beat you at WrestleWars to become the number one contender for the WGWF World Title.
You know why you're still somewhat relevant here? It's because you're a good wrestler. You're versatile enough to be a jack of all trades. However, you know how the saying goes. Jack of all trades, master of none. The same reason you can be in this match is the same reason you won't win it.
When you need to be good, you're good.
When you need to be great, you're....only good.
When I need to be good, I'm great.
When I need to be great, I'm exceptional.
Think back to Summer Madness. The event where I made my WGWF debut. Night one, you teamed up with Spencer Adams, one of the best wrestlers out there, and what happened? You lost. You got nailed by a hammer, falling down at the time that you needed to rise up. ONE night later, I also had a tag match with Spencer Adams, who at this point was no longer at 100% because of the aforementioned battle alongside you. Good enough wasn't gonna be good enough. I needed to step up, and unlike you, I did. I scored the win. I proved my reliability while you proved yourself to be...a liability.
Now if that was all there was to it, then it would be silly for me to mention, right? What does a pair of tag team matches have to do with the World Title? Ability. Who has the ability to carry the burdens of being the line leader? The dedication and drive to stand at the Apex of the company. Anyone can want it, but few go above and beyond to get it. I will, but you won't. You don't want this like I do. NOBODY does.
I'm manifesting my goals into success this year. I'ma keep saying it until I'm blue in the face and I leave bodies all over the place. I. WILL. BE. WORLD. CHAMPION! Why? Because big Goldie’s the only belt I'm missing. Do you know how that feels, John? To be in the conversation of greatest wrestlers to have NOT won a World Title. It's the most bittersweet thing I've been a part of in my career. It's great to see the fans love and respect me for doing the improbable task of going from underachieving undercarder to main event material. Wrestling’s rags to riches equivalent. But after a while, the asterisk next to my legacy changed. It went from “He hasn't really done anything” to “he's not consistent” to “he can't win the big matches” to the current “okay he's good, but he's never been World Champion”. I've been around the world, but I've never been on top of it. That bothers me, John. I should at least be pursuing my second career World Title or hell even my third or fourth. Instead, I'm still trying to get on the board. So if you're sick of me tired of talking about becoming World Champion, know that I'm even sicker of not already being one. I'm so close to the cure though, John. I see it on the horizon, but I also see you in my way. I can't let you stop me, so I'm gonna walk into WrestleWars, out-wrestle you from bell to bell, and walk out as number one contender.
After getting the last of the items into his car, CJ leans on the side of the vehicle while looking at the house. His hands are tucked into the pockets of his gym shorts as a sigh escapes from his body. “We’ve been through a hell of a lot, haven't we, old friend? I heard my voice echo for the first time since my wife and I moved in as newlyweds. Feels like that was a lifetime ago. That echo reminded me of who I was back then. I've grown so much professionally and personally since then. I've had so many parties here and sleepless nights. I brought back wrestling titles and poker players for cash games. I've done everything I've wanted to do....except for one. Bringing home a world title. I still owe that to you. I know you're not upset or anything because....well, you're a house, but I still feel like that would be the crowning achievement. A perfect thank you for sheltering me and my wife through all the rainy days out here and within us. When I win the world title, before I go anywhere else, I'm coming back here. I'm walking through that front door and I'm gonna raise the title high in the air because you deserve to house a world champ. You've been a solid foundation for me when I was falling apart. Now, I get to go be a solid foundation for the future of wrestling. Farewell for now, my friend, and thank you for being my home.”
The Luminary of Despair enters his vehicle. A moment later, the engine roars to life. The tires roll forward and he's off to his next stop: the Mirai Mental Health Center. It took a while before he went through with the idea of having the place built. There will always be a part of him that worries about someone else possibly going through the same thing he did at the hands of someone HIS company hired. Fortunately, that has not been the case. The reviews have been great. More importantly, lives have been improved. Hope is being restored in those who thought themselves hopeless. No matter what he achieves professionally, uplifting others and making people happy will always be his favorite accomplishment. Daniel was right. The center will be fine even if CJ’s hundreds, or thousands, of miles away. That kind of reassurance brings a peaceful smile to his face. Satisfied with the Mirai, he drives off, heading to his final pit stop.
Do you ACTUALLY know why you're here, John? Can you even justify it beyond winning a raffle backstage or pulling the short straw to determine who gets the honor of being stomped out by me? Think about it. You're an outlier here. You're on the Smash roster trying to steal a title being represented by Brawl. YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad our paths have finally crossed and it's great being able to face you, but you're not ready to challenge for the throne like I am. You're not capable of running the kingdom. How could you be when you haven't been here in so long? When have you gotten in line during the ongoing war between Cholo and Mac Bane and shown that you could be next up to hit the battlefield?
.....
Oh? What's that? Crickets? Of course.
You know who HAS been doing all of that and then some? ME! Let me fill you in on what you’ve missed. On a roster overflowing with talent, yourself included, NO ONE has been fighting as hard as I have to get the next shot at the World Title! I got here because I've stood on business so hard that the ground is in pain! I'M the one that continues to stand out! No one can question why I'm in this match. No one can deny that I've lived up to the hype that continues to build up around me. There isn't a name on the roster more devoted and motivated than I am because I'm doing this for everybody out there. I'm doing this for the WORLD!
A world that's desperately trying to turn the page. One that's ready to see CJ Phoenix as World Champion. If we're being honest, you're ready to see that too. You don't wanna admit it with your words. So I'll prove it with my actions and your reactions.
I want you to pay REAL close attention at WrestleWars. When your music hits, listen to the crowd when they come out. Take note of the sound of their cheers. Absorb the happiness from the people that are glad to see you in action. Then, compare it to mine. Feel that electricity in the air. That's the hope of a stadium full of people. Hope for a future led by yours truly. I've earned that by resonating with their despair and using it to conquer all of the obstacles that stand in my way. If you wanna know why your heart’s running faster that Sonic the Hedgehog on a sugar rush, it's because you're feeling the excitement of every fan inside of AT&T Stadium waiting in anticipation for the hottest chime in wrestling.
Those four notes will create a deafening roar from the crowd. It'll be so loud that you won't be able to hear your heart sink to the floor. You won't even feel it because you'll be too busy being overwhelmed by the sheer despair that comes with opposing me. When I show up, the atmosphere changes. When I speak, the world listens. And when I wrestle, I leave everyone awestruck. By the time the bell rings for our match to begin, you will have already seen that I was right. And when the bell rings again and the ref raises my hand in victory, you'll see that they were right to entrust their hope in me.
You're good, but I'm GREAT!
You're liked, but I'm LOVED!
Somnia Academy. CJ’s biggest creation. He stands across from the front entrance, triggering a memory from that same spot almost two and a half years ago.
November 3rd, 2021
8:11AM
“Wow! It's dirt! And so much of it! Is this where you'll be burying the bodies?” The sarcasm was all over the words spoken by a transparent version of Junko Enoshima. She stands next to CJ Phoenix with her arms folded just like his are. Meanwhile, he's giving her the most bombastic of side eyes. “No.” “Is this where I'LL be burying the bodies?” “Noooooo.” “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! You're such a killjoy.” Junko’s arms unfolded and her hands latched onto her hips.
CJ shakes his head. His gaze shifts to the land in front of him. “Right now, it's just unused land to most people. A useless waste of space. To me, it's untapped potential waiting to shine. Something far greater than it gets credit for.”
“Ah, so it's you. YOU'RE the dirt!” The excitement in her voice made it seem like she was a part of Mystery Incorporated and she was unmasking the monster. Back when CJ was frequently conversing with the voices in his head, he would sometimes see them take the transparent form of familiar faces. Junko represented the part of him that was analytical, skeptical, and chaotic. “Or at least this land is a lot like you used to be. Passed over and seen as nothing until you started growing and catching everyone's attention. Hate to break it to ya, but this piece of land can't exactly compete in wrestling matches like you do.”
That snarky remark at the end earned an eye roll from CJ. “Obviously not, but it doesn't need to.” Phoenix kept his voice calm as he spoke. “As long as it can become a place that benefits others while helping shape a better future, I will be happy.”
“And what if it doesn't?” Junko objected. “What if you wait all this time for whatever you're planning to build and it fails or it gets destroyed by the weather or something?”
“That's a risk I'm willing to take. I want to be remembered for more than just what I was able to do in a wrestling ring or at a poker table. I want people to be able to see me as someone who helped them get better whether it's physically, spiritually, or emotionally. I don't want my gifts to the world to end when my career does. So this will be a gift that keeps on giving. Even if it takes time, and even if it takes more than one try. It will be worth it because every person that it helps is a victory within itself.”
Phoenix looks through his phone and finds the image of the first picture he took of the academy back when it was just dirt and grass. It's almost absurd seeing what it's become now, and it's still continuing to grow.
“Well, Junko, Project: Hope's Peak was a success. That pile of dirt turned into a school that's nearing the end of another school year. Next month, it'll be hosting a graduation ceremony for the second time. Last year's class had boundless potential, with the women's basketball team winning the state championship. And now one of them is getting ready to start building her own wrestling legacy in the NPWA. I didn't hold her, or anyone else's hand through any of it. They proved on their own that all they needed was a chance to work on becoming the best version of themselves. This place gives people that chance. I still think that this will ultimately be my greatest accomplishment when it's all said and done. Now that it's survived the media oversaturation stage, the focus is slowly shifting away from me and towards the students themselves and what they're achieving. They're the future of this world, and I'm gonna make sure that it's a world with a future worth getting to. Until we meet again, Somnia Academy.”
CJ gets in his car one more time and drives off, finally able to trust in his project enough to let it stand on its own.
I really hope you don't think that you being on Smash means I haven't been scouting you as well. Getting put through a light tube log cabin is nasty work. What's even nastier is taking your eye off the ball at a crucial point in a main event match. All because of some music playing. That's truly unfortunate. I know the thought has crossed your mind, hasn't it? What if it happens again? We both KNOW J Mont has a match on the same night as ours. So that guarantees that he'll at least be in attendance lurking around somewhere. That thought alone is enough to trigger the paranoia that cost you your last match. It's the nail in your coffin. You may want the World Title, but not as much as you want to put an end to J Mont and his crew. I, on the other hand, am the opposite. I'm not trying to chase down syndicates or any shit like that. My focus is becoming World Champion. That's been my goal since day one here and I've kept my eyes on that prize ever since. WrestleWars will be no different. Show up, show out, and leave with the win.
There is one positive for you in all of this. Even though you're gonna be thoroughly outclassed and defeated by me, you can still hold your head up high knowing that you got to compete against the next face of the WGWF. You can go back to Smash and focus all your attention on fucking up the fortunate ones. Or die trying. On top of that, you can rest easy because the future of the company is in great hands.
Lastly, when I beat you at WrestleWars, it'll be more than just a win for me. It'll be a win for the fans as well as a win for Brawl. You see, this upcoming event is a stacked show laced with battles for brand supremacy. A rare time where the lines are blurred and you get cross-branded matches like these. I don't just have a #1 contender's spot to lock up, I have to protect the title I'm going after from having its next challenger be from the other show. In a sense, this is my penultimate trial. In order to be the superior champion, I must first prove myself to be the superior contender. After all, if I can't even beat a punching bag in a mask from the other show, how would I be able to call myself a worthy challenger for the richest prize in the company? I wouldn't be. That's why I'm not gonna let that happen. So on night one of the battle of the brands, you can put a plus one on the board for Brawl and a number one next to CJ Phoenix. And on night two, after I've successfully protected Brawl's reputation, I'll be rewarded by seeing who I'll be taking the World Title from.
I suggest you bring a ten gallon hat to WrestleWars, John. You're gonna need it for your tears.
That's what CJ Phoenix kept telling himself internally as he took a walk through what would soon be his former home. Sure, he would still own the place, but the plan would be for it to be used if friends or family were in town and needed a nice place to stay at. Over the last few days, he and Kaiyah have been moving things piece by piece to their new home whenever either of them would go there. Now, there were only a few items left to transfer. While rounding up some of the last of the things he's taking with him, a handful of items bring back memories as he puts them into a container. The first of which was the Alpha Title that he had won in WCF way back in his first year of wrestling. It was a new title, and just as it was his first belt, he was the title’s first champion. The pinnacle of his time there will always remain a vivid memory. CJ places the belt in the bin.
The next item he touches is a bracelet from the World Series of Poker. The reward aside from the money for winning a tournament. Five years ago, CJ became one of the youngest players to ever win a bracelet at the age of 24. A feat that often gets overshadowed by his resurrected wrestling career. Every once in a while, the what if game gets played. What if CJ never got back in the ring after winning that tournament? His poker legacy could be through the roof, but his pro wrestling legacy would've been underwhelming. A forgettable career lost in the shuffle to the point where at this moment in time, people would've been surprised to find out that he was a wrestler.
He could've hung up his boots early, but he wasn't satisfied with how his career was at the time, so he returned to the squared circle to fix it. After he puts the bracelet on his wrist, the last title he stops to look at is the Action Wrestling Hardcore Title. It was the first belt that he won there. His opponent?
SPENCER ADAMS
How ironic is it that the final title that CJ held in that company was the tag team titles alongside the man he faced to win his first title in the company? Truly a full circle moment with the man who is now one of his best friends. If he would've given up on his career back in 2019, the King Shit run of dominance would've never happened. Phoenix smiles as he remembers the battles he had with and against Adams. He half closes the bin and heads down to the basement to see if there was anything leftover. As he walks through the basement, he sees something very familiar. A handmade Monokuma mask. The catalyst to CJ becoming the Luminary of Despair. It feels as if time itself has temporarily frozen. One look at the object triggers so many traumas. Dr. Field and the false memories. Witnessing Field getting shot by Vanessa’s formerly brainwashed older brother. All the stress and sleepless nights took a toll on both his wrestling career and his life. His mental health spiraled out of control. To him, that mask had become a mirror that showed CJ his own despair. He chose not to throw it away because he saw it as a reminder of what his life used to be. A disaster despite him having the best run of his career. That mask haunted him for far too long, but not anymore. He walks back upstairs and places the mask in the bin, closing it completely afterwards.
John Cable...I want to start off by saying thank you. Thanks for being my opponent and for looking out for my bro Spencer Adams while he was here. You're really good, but I'm astronomically phenomenal, and you're gonna witness that when I beat you at WrestleWars to become the number one contender for the WGWF World Title.
You know why you're still somewhat relevant here? It's because you're a good wrestler. You're versatile enough to be a jack of all trades. However, you know how the saying goes. Jack of all trades, master of none. The same reason you can be in this match is the same reason you won't win it.
When you need to be good, you're good.
When you need to be great, you're....only good.
When I need to be good, I'm great.
When I need to be great, I'm exceptional.
Think back to Summer Madness. The event where I made my WGWF debut. Night one, you teamed up with Spencer Adams, one of the best wrestlers out there, and what happened? You lost. You got nailed by a hammer, falling down at the time that you needed to rise up. ONE night later, I also had a tag match with Spencer Adams, who at this point was no longer at 100% because of the aforementioned battle alongside you. Good enough wasn't gonna be good enough. I needed to step up, and unlike you, I did. I scored the win. I proved my reliability while you proved yourself to be...a liability.
Now if that was all there was to it, then it would be silly for me to mention, right? What does a pair of tag team matches have to do with the World Title? Ability. Who has the ability to carry the burdens of being the line leader? The dedication and drive to stand at the Apex of the company. Anyone can want it, but few go above and beyond to get it. I will, but you won't. You don't want this like I do. NOBODY does.
I'm manifesting my goals into success this year. I'ma keep saying it until I'm blue in the face and I leave bodies all over the place. I. WILL. BE. WORLD. CHAMPION! Why? Because big Goldie’s the only belt I'm missing. Do you know how that feels, John? To be in the conversation of greatest wrestlers to have NOT won a World Title. It's the most bittersweet thing I've been a part of in my career. It's great to see the fans love and respect me for doing the improbable task of going from underachieving undercarder to main event material. Wrestling’s rags to riches equivalent. But after a while, the asterisk next to my legacy changed. It went from “He hasn't really done anything” to “he's not consistent” to “he can't win the big matches” to the current “okay he's good, but he's never been World Champion”. I've been around the world, but I've never been on top of it. That bothers me, John. I should at least be pursuing my second career World Title or hell even my third or fourth. Instead, I'm still trying to get on the board. So if you're sick of me tired of talking about becoming World Champion, know that I'm even sicker of not already being one. I'm so close to the cure though, John. I see it on the horizon, but I also see you in my way. I can't let you stop me, so I'm gonna walk into WrestleWars, out-wrestle you from bell to bell, and walk out as number one contender.
Cause. Effect.
Sickness. Cure.
CJ. WINS!
After getting the last of the items into his car, CJ leans on the side of the vehicle while looking at the house. His hands are tucked into the pockets of his gym shorts as a sigh escapes from his body. “We’ve been through a hell of a lot, haven't we, old friend? I heard my voice echo for the first time since my wife and I moved in as newlyweds. Feels like that was a lifetime ago. That echo reminded me of who I was back then. I've grown so much professionally and personally since then. I've had so many parties here and sleepless nights. I brought back wrestling titles and poker players for cash games. I've done everything I've wanted to do....except for one. Bringing home a world title. I still owe that to you. I know you're not upset or anything because....well, you're a house, but I still feel like that would be the crowning achievement. A perfect thank you for sheltering me and my wife through all the rainy days out here and within us. When I win the world title, before I go anywhere else, I'm coming back here. I'm walking through that front door and I'm gonna raise the title high in the air because you deserve to house a world champ. You've been a solid foundation for me when I was falling apart. Now, I get to go be a solid foundation for the future of wrestling. Farewell for now, my friend, and thank you for being my home.”
The Luminary of Despair enters his vehicle. A moment later, the engine roars to life. The tires roll forward and he's off to his next stop: the Mirai Mental Health Center. It took a while before he went through with the idea of having the place built. There will always be a part of him that worries about someone else possibly going through the same thing he did at the hands of someone HIS company hired. Fortunately, that has not been the case. The reviews have been great. More importantly, lives have been improved. Hope is being restored in those who thought themselves hopeless. No matter what he achieves professionally, uplifting others and making people happy will always be his favorite accomplishment. Daniel was right. The center will be fine even if CJ’s hundreds, or thousands, of miles away. That kind of reassurance brings a peaceful smile to his face. Satisfied with the Mirai, he drives off, heading to his final pit stop.
Do you ACTUALLY know why you're here, John? Can you even justify it beyond winning a raffle backstage or pulling the short straw to determine who gets the honor of being stomped out by me? Think about it. You're an outlier here. You're on the Smash roster trying to steal a title being represented by Brawl. YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad our paths have finally crossed and it's great being able to face you, but you're not ready to challenge for the throne like I am. You're not capable of running the kingdom. How could you be when you haven't been here in so long? When have you gotten in line during the ongoing war between Cholo and Mac Bane and shown that you could be next up to hit the battlefield?
.....
Oh? What's that? Crickets? Of course.
You know who HAS been doing all of that and then some? ME! Let me fill you in on what you’ve missed. On a roster overflowing with talent, yourself included, NO ONE has been fighting as hard as I have to get the next shot at the World Title! I got here because I've stood on business so hard that the ground is in pain! I'M the one that continues to stand out! No one can question why I'm in this match. No one can deny that I've lived up to the hype that continues to build up around me. There isn't a name on the roster more devoted and motivated than I am because I'm doing this for everybody out there. I'm doing this for the WORLD!
A world that's desperately trying to turn the page. One that's ready to see CJ Phoenix as World Champion. If we're being honest, you're ready to see that too. You don't wanna admit it with your words. So I'll prove it with my actions and your reactions.
I want you to pay REAL close attention at WrestleWars. When your music hits, listen to the crowd when they come out. Take note of the sound of their cheers. Absorb the happiness from the people that are glad to see you in action. Then, compare it to mine. Feel that electricity in the air. That's the hope of a stadium full of people. Hope for a future led by yours truly. I've earned that by resonating with their despair and using it to conquer all of the obstacles that stand in my way. If you wanna know why your heart’s running faster that Sonic the Hedgehog on a sugar rush, it's because you're feeling the excitement of every fan inside of AT&T Stadium waiting in anticipation for the hottest chime in wrestling.
DING...
DONG...
BING...
BONG...
You're good, but I'm GREAT!
You're liked, but I'm LOVED!
Somnia Academy. CJ’s biggest creation. He stands across from the front entrance, triggering a memory from that same spot almost two and a half years ago.
==> Flashback Unlocked! “Of Dirt and Despair” <==
November 3rd, 2021
8:11AM
“Wow! It's dirt! And so much of it! Is this where you'll be burying the bodies?” The sarcasm was all over the words spoken by a transparent version of Junko Enoshima. She stands next to CJ Phoenix with her arms folded just like his are. Meanwhile, he's giving her the most bombastic of side eyes. “No.” “Is this where I'LL be burying the bodies?” “Noooooo.” “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! You're such a killjoy.” Junko’s arms unfolded and her hands latched onto her hips.
CJ shakes his head. His gaze shifts to the land in front of him. “Right now, it's just unused land to most people. A useless waste of space. To me, it's untapped potential waiting to shine. Something far greater than it gets credit for.”
“Ah, so it's you. YOU'RE the dirt!” The excitement in her voice made it seem like she was a part of Mystery Incorporated and she was unmasking the monster. Back when CJ was frequently conversing with the voices in his head, he would sometimes see them take the transparent form of familiar faces. Junko represented the part of him that was analytical, skeptical, and chaotic. “Or at least this land is a lot like you used to be. Passed over and seen as nothing until you started growing and catching everyone's attention. Hate to break it to ya, but this piece of land can't exactly compete in wrestling matches like you do.”
That snarky remark at the end earned an eye roll from CJ. “Obviously not, but it doesn't need to.” Phoenix kept his voice calm as he spoke. “As long as it can become a place that benefits others while helping shape a better future, I will be happy.”
“And what if it doesn't?” Junko objected. “What if you wait all this time for whatever you're planning to build and it fails or it gets destroyed by the weather or something?”
“That's a risk I'm willing to take. I want to be remembered for more than just what I was able to do in a wrestling ring or at a poker table. I want people to be able to see me as someone who helped them get better whether it's physically, spiritually, or emotionally. I don't want my gifts to the world to end when my career does. So this will be a gift that keeps on giving. Even if it takes time, and even if it takes more than one try. It will be worth it because every person that it helps is a victory within itself.”
==> End Flashback <==
“Well, Junko, Project: Hope's Peak was a success. That pile of dirt turned into a school that's nearing the end of another school year. Next month, it'll be hosting a graduation ceremony for the second time. Last year's class had boundless potential, with the women's basketball team winning the state championship. And now one of them is getting ready to start building her own wrestling legacy in the NPWA. I didn't hold her, or anyone else's hand through any of it. They proved on their own that all they needed was a chance to work on becoming the best version of themselves. This place gives people that chance. I still think that this will ultimately be my greatest accomplishment when it's all said and done. Now that it's survived the media oversaturation stage, the focus is slowly shifting away from me and towards the students themselves and what they're achieving. They're the future of this world, and I'm gonna make sure that it's a world with a future worth getting to. Until we meet again, Somnia Academy.”
CJ gets in his car one more time and drives off, finally able to trust in his project enough to let it stand on its own.
I really hope you don't think that you being on Smash means I haven't been scouting you as well. Getting put through a light tube log cabin is nasty work. What's even nastier is taking your eye off the ball at a crucial point in a main event match. All because of some music playing. That's truly unfortunate. I know the thought has crossed your mind, hasn't it? What if it happens again? We both KNOW J Mont has a match on the same night as ours. So that guarantees that he'll at least be in attendance lurking around somewhere. That thought alone is enough to trigger the paranoia that cost you your last match. It's the nail in your coffin. You may want the World Title, but not as much as you want to put an end to J Mont and his crew. I, on the other hand, am the opposite. I'm not trying to chase down syndicates or any shit like that. My focus is becoming World Champion. That's been my goal since day one here and I've kept my eyes on that prize ever since. WrestleWars will be no different. Show up, show out, and leave with the win.
There is one positive for you in all of this. Even though you're gonna be thoroughly outclassed and defeated by me, you can still hold your head up high knowing that you got to compete against the next face of the WGWF. You can go back to Smash and focus all your attention on fucking up the fortunate ones. Or die trying. On top of that, you can rest easy because the future of the company is in great hands.
Lastly, when I beat you at WrestleWars, it'll be more than just a win for me. It'll be a win for the fans as well as a win for Brawl. You see, this upcoming event is a stacked show laced with battles for brand supremacy. A rare time where the lines are blurred and you get cross-branded matches like these. I don't just have a #1 contender's spot to lock up, I have to protect the title I'm going after from having its next challenger be from the other show. In a sense, this is my penultimate trial. In order to be the superior champion, I must first prove myself to be the superior contender. After all, if I can't even beat a punching bag in a mask from the other show, how would I be able to call myself a worthy challenger for the richest prize in the company? I wouldn't be. That's why I'm not gonna let that happen. So on night one of the battle of the brands, you can put a plus one on the board for Brawl and a number one next to CJ Phoenix. And on night two, after I've successfully protected Brawl's reputation, I'll be rewarded by seeing who I'll be taking the World Title from.
I suggest you bring a ten gallon hat to WrestleWars, John. You're gonna need it for your tears.