Post by D! on Nov 14, 2005 0:09:38 GMT -5
(Lights up. The image is the NAPW ring, shot in starkly-lit black and white. D! is lying in the ring with the NAPW Championship, and looking up at the lights.)
D!: When I held court last Thursday . . . on Action . . . I was on the top of the world. Standing tall . . . inspiring new Superstars . . . basking in the glow of the crowd. I had everything I'd ever wanted . . . just a taste.
By that point, everybody was talking about how they knew me. Everybody wanted to get to know me. Everybody was my best friend. Everybody wanted me to form a tag team.
I drank so much I got sick, but I didn't care. When you get high enough, you tend to feel numb. And that was my first show as NAPW Champion . . . high on victory. High on the crowd. High on being everybody's favourite.
And it didn't even take me one day to fall to Earth.
On Friday, Plague got the upper hand. Big time. Hell, he punked me. On my own neighbourhood, on my own turf, with my own crowd. He left me furious, speechless and humiliated.
I faltered. And he got me.
On Saturday, I stayed in my apartment. I didn't answer my phone. I didn't read my e-mail. I went on NAPW.ca and found video of Plague talking more trash, calling me a geek. Calling me a footnote. Calling me a joke. I knew right then whatever I was feeling . . . I didn't understand what I was feeling . . . it wouldn't go away. It wouldn't go away until I beat Plague, once and for all, on Monday Night Fight.
But I knew that Plague had smartened up to me. Last week, I set the beat. Last week, I led the dance. And this week . . .
By the end of Saturday night I realized that I was too tired to think, and that on Sunday morning I'd know what the solution was. And so, still in my apartment, I went to sleep.
(Pause.)
On Sunday morning Eddie Guerrero died.
(D! springs to his feet and turns away from the camera. He goes to an opposite turnbuckle, barely in frame, and stands facing it. Saying nothing.)
(Pause.)
(D! steps out of the corner, and faces the camera for the first time this promo. He meets the camera halfway across the ring.)
D!: With respect to Eddie's passing, the NAPW Superstars will be doing two things on Monday. One--
(He indicates his bicep, where a black ribbon is tied.)
We will all be wearing these ribbons. Because one of us, one of us who has touched our lives so much without ever meeting him, one of us is gone. Forever. Me. Plague. Ravager. Static. D-X. The Decaps. Everyone. All of us. It's the least that the NAPW can do. And it's still not enough by itself.
That's why every single one of us, even though we've never met on it or made an official decision. All of us. All. Of. Us. We are going to wrestle tonight the way Eddie lived every day. Leaving nothing behind. No regrets. With every bit of intensity that put us in this game.
And that's all I have to say about that matter.
Plague . . .
(Pause.)
I learned three things this week. Things I learned helping others. Things I learned from being Champion. Things I learned by having ground beef drip off of my face. Call them my Three Noble Truths.
When I talked to Khaos, I told him that it's not about who you know. It's about what you do. It's something I realized when I watched his interviews. And it opened my eyes.
When I talked to Immortal, I had to tell him that it's not about what you think you deserve. It's about what you do. I wouldn't have realized this without him. And it got me to realize just how big this mountain really is.
When I talked to you . . . I realized that an opponent you can beat with head games . . . isn't a real opponent. I beat you that way once. And now I know it won't happen again. It'll be my win because I outclass you in the ring. It's about. What. You do.
And do you know how that truth has changed me?
(D!, never breaking eye contact with the camera, puts his fist in his hand and pops his knuckles.)
Everybody seems to know how I got into wrestling. I saw the game, and I said "Me, too." But everybody gets the why wrong. Every one, including you, Plague, every one has just assumed that I was a restless mark that wanted to play make-believe. That's why Viking treated me as a joke. That's why you took me lightly the first time.
Well, I beat both of you. And the words that came out of both of your mouths?
"It was luck."
I DON'T BELIEVE IN LUCK, PEANUT! You couldn't handle two contrary notions and so your brain just spit out excuses! You couldn't come up with the answer on your own, so let me explain it to you. Let me explain the mystery of One Letter, Sad Real Loud!
When I said "Me, Too", it wasn't because I wanted to belong. It was because I saw every live competitor and knew I could beat them. Not because I'm here to fake it! Not because I thought I was a hit man, viking or radioactive busker! Because it was that! Damn! Simple! A choice!
I'm holding the NAPW Title and you think I'm some pedant who doesn't understand what's going on?
You simple. Arrogant. Ass.
Fool me once, shame on you. I will not be fooled twice by you, and I pray you've got the brains to understand that, otherwise, quit while you're still ahead.
You made a huge mistake when you made me angry, Plague. Because whenever I Barrage someone? Whenever they're on their knees and I measure them for that One! Last! Kick!?
I think about what's led me up to that moment.
I spent too much time in my apartment, and not enough time (points to the ring) in my home.
Because I got sick.
(D! hoists the title back up on his shoulder, straightens up, and grins straight into the camera.)
So I found the cure.
(Lights down.)
D!: When I held court last Thursday . . . on Action . . . I was on the top of the world. Standing tall . . . inspiring new Superstars . . . basking in the glow of the crowd. I had everything I'd ever wanted . . . just a taste.
By that point, everybody was talking about how they knew me. Everybody wanted to get to know me. Everybody was my best friend. Everybody wanted me to form a tag team.
I drank so much I got sick, but I didn't care. When you get high enough, you tend to feel numb. And that was my first show as NAPW Champion . . . high on victory. High on the crowd. High on being everybody's favourite.
And it didn't even take me one day to fall to Earth.
On Friday, Plague got the upper hand. Big time. Hell, he punked me. On my own neighbourhood, on my own turf, with my own crowd. He left me furious, speechless and humiliated.
I faltered. And he got me.
On Saturday, I stayed in my apartment. I didn't answer my phone. I didn't read my e-mail. I went on NAPW.ca and found video of Plague talking more trash, calling me a geek. Calling me a footnote. Calling me a joke. I knew right then whatever I was feeling . . . I didn't understand what I was feeling . . . it wouldn't go away. It wouldn't go away until I beat Plague, once and for all, on Monday Night Fight.
But I knew that Plague had smartened up to me. Last week, I set the beat. Last week, I led the dance. And this week . . .
By the end of Saturday night I realized that I was too tired to think, and that on Sunday morning I'd know what the solution was. And so, still in my apartment, I went to sleep.
(Pause.)
On Sunday morning Eddie Guerrero died.
(D! springs to his feet and turns away from the camera. He goes to an opposite turnbuckle, barely in frame, and stands facing it. Saying nothing.)
(Pause.)
(D! steps out of the corner, and faces the camera for the first time this promo. He meets the camera halfway across the ring.)
D!: With respect to Eddie's passing, the NAPW Superstars will be doing two things on Monday. One--
(He indicates his bicep, where a black ribbon is tied.)
We will all be wearing these ribbons. Because one of us, one of us who has touched our lives so much without ever meeting him, one of us is gone. Forever. Me. Plague. Ravager. Static. D-X. The Decaps. Everyone. All of us. It's the least that the NAPW can do. And it's still not enough by itself.
That's why every single one of us, even though we've never met on it or made an official decision. All of us. All. Of. Us. We are going to wrestle tonight the way Eddie lived every day. Leaving nothing behind. No regrets. With every bit of intensity that put us in this game.
And that's all I have to say about that matter.
Plague . . .
(Pause.)
I learned three things this week. Things I learned helping others. Things I learned from being Champion. Things I learned by having ground beef drip off of my face. Call them my Three Noble Truths.
When I talked to Khaos, I told him that it's not about who you know. It's about what you do. It's something I realized when I watched his interviews. And it opened my eyes.
When I talked to Immortal, I had to tell him that it's not about what you think you deserve. It's about what you do. I wouldn't have realized this without him. And it got me to realize just how big this mountain really is.
When I talked to you . . . I realized that an opponent you can beat with head games . . . isn't a real opponent. I beat you that way once. And now I know it won't happen again. It'll be my win because I outclass you in the ring. It's about. What. You do.
And do you know how that truth has changed me?
(D!, never breaking eye contact with the camera, puts his fist in his hand and pops his knuckles.)
Everybody seems to know how I got into wrestling. I saw the game, and I said "Me, too." But everybody gets the why wrong. Every one, including you, Plague, every one has just assumed that I was a restless mark that wanted to play make-believe. That's why Viking treated me as a joke. That's why you took me lightly the first time.
Well, I beat both of you. And the words that came out of both of your mouths?
"It was luck."
I DON'T BELIEVE IN LUCK, PEANUT! You couldn't handle two contrary notions and so your brain just spit out excuses! You couldn't come up with the answer on your own, so let me explain it to you. Let me explain the mystery of One Letter, Sad Real Loud!
When I said "Me, Too", it wasn't because I wanted to belong. It was because I saw every live competitor and knew I could beat them. Not because I'm here to fake it! Not because I thought I was a hit man, viking or radioactive busker! Because it was that! Damn! Simple! A choice!
I'm holding the NAPW Title and you think I'm some pedant who doesn't understand what's going on?
You simple. Arrogant. Ass.
Fool me once, shame on you. I will not be fooled twice by you, and I pray you've got the brains to understand that, otherwise, quit while you're still ahead.
You made a huge mistake when you made me angry, Plague. Because whenever I Barrage someone? Whenever they're on their knees and I measure them for that One! Last! Kick!?
I think about what's led me up to that moment.
I spent too much time in my apartment, and not enough time (points to the ring) in my home.
Because I got sick.
(D! hoists the title back up on his shoulder, straightens up, and grins straight into the camera.)
So I found the cure.
(Lights down.)