Post by Ravager on Mar 25, 2007 15:57:58 GMT -5
The Edmonton International Airport. Ravager is checking his bags, when he is approached by Josh Reynolds.
Ravager: Josh, you really need to find a hobby..
Reynolds: We're on the same flight.
He holds up his ticket. Ravager grabs it, and checks it out.
Ravager: You're three rows back. Thank the Lord for that.
Reynolds: Do you think you're ready?
Ravager: When am I not?
Reynolds: Well, things seem to be working against you this time. An opponent on a hot streak....
Ravager: Rex Caliber. Lloyd Rees. Simply Beautiful. All had their hot runs ended by me.
Reynolds: You won't be the crowd favorite...
Ravager just glares.
Reynolds: Right, I guess that's never been an issue before. But the home town favorite...
Ravager: My very first night in NAPW, I took on the home town favorite. The man everybody wanted to win. And I took him out in grand fashion. And he's never been the same since. The fans can love me or hate me. I can't let their whims decide the course of the match. I have to rely on skills, not adoration from people, to come out on top. They can cheer whoever they want to. They paid to get in, they have that right. I get paid to put on the best match possible. And I earn my paycheck every match I'm in.
Reynolds: So, are you concerned about Kryenik?
Ravager: Of course. he's either going to come in on a high after winning his match. Or angry after losing. I'm hoping he comes in spent, because I'm going to need every edge I can get to win this one. But rest assured, I will win. Now, I don't want to be late for boarding. You better get checked in yourself.
Ravager walks off towards the boarding gate, leaving Josh behind.
Cut to inside the plane. Normally Ravager would do the road trip thing, (and after seeing Reynolds take his seat, he's wishing he had) but time got away from him this week. Maybe if he hadn't had to go back to Edmonton... no matter. He's on his way to Toronto. To face one of his stiffest challenges to date. In front of (possibly) a hostile crowd. With a pile of doubts crashing down on him. Not his own, but from fans and other wrestlers, who are seeing a new era for the NAPW. One that doesn't have Ravager as champion...
Surprisingly, I've never been to Toronto. Never had the need to up till now. All I hear about it is grumblings from the Westerners, how "In Toronto they think they're the center of the universe". And complaints that "we have the Maple Leafs rammed down our throats every Saturday night, even though we all know they'll be gone by the first round of the playoffs". Is this just spite? I thought so, but then I listen to Kryenik talk about taking the NAPW title home to Toronto. And I see all the predictions for our match, and it's almost a clean sweep for "Sick" Billy. All eyes are on you. It's like I'm keeping your seat warm for you until you're ready to take it. So many people want you to win the title from me, and are dead certain you'll do it. Now, will you live up to their lofty expectations, or will you crash and burn like the Maple Leaf's come April? (smirks) All I can say is, you better not let all the praise go to your head, because it'll hurt that much more when I drop you on it.
You say you're not Rex Caliber. I knew that already Billy. You're unlike anybody else I've ever faced one on one. I've made numerous mentions of your skills. Your fortitude. I never expected an easy night out of you. When we've matched up before, it's been a fight. Fights I've come out on top of. People never seem to mention that. You've never got the better of me, even with Deathrow and D! in your corner. And now? It's just you and I. And for some reason, I'm the underdog. After everything I've done since I arrived in the NAPW, I'm not being favored to win. Two time Provincial champion. Two time NAPW champion. The man who brought Pure Honor to NAPW. The winner of the House of Horrors at Anniversary Assault. I've left pools of my blood in arenas all over Western Canada. I expect to leave a few more in Toronto Tuesday night. But I've also spilled as much blood from my opponents. I don't need weapons. I proved that against Plague. But I'm more than happy to use them if they get brought in. I've put my body on the line against Static. I pushed myself to the brink of madness against Minstrel. I sacrificed goodwill from the fans, my home, and my reputation just to get a shot at D! You really think I'm not prepared for you? You think I won't bring everything I've got to this match? And do you really think that your old coach will prepare you for me? The biggest fight of your life? I hope he's not your last resort. Because my Last Resort? (chuckles) Is just a little bit more effective. You think your past will make you stronger. For a while I thought that. I thought it would give me that extra edge when I went after D! the first time. But it wasn't until I looked to the future that I was successful. The future I see has me leading the NAPW. It has me holding the NAPW title with pride and distinction. It has me fighting all comers. And you know what, Billy? I can see you there too. As a tag team specialist. As a leader for all those coming up the ranks. As an ally against The Untouchables. And maybe, someone I can pass the torch to. But not yet. Not Tuesday. I am going to leave a lot of fans in Toronto sorely disappointed. But given the past, I'm sure they'll get over it. Just like I'm sure you'll get over it. This will not be the worst thing that ever happens to you Billy. If anything, this will make you hungrier. Better. More determined, if that's possible. You'll tear a path through the tag division with Deathrow. You'll turn some heads, (maybe even twist a few off) and you'll be a bigger superstar. But it won't come at my expense. I can't let that happen. This is my time. I'm finally living up to expectations, and I refuse to let all that go away with one loss. I've learned to live with a loss. I've learned to come back from a loss. But it's painful. Aggravating. Humiliating. And the only way I can avoid these lessons is to win. I won't learn anything from you Billy. I've gotten all the knowledge I want for now. I just want to move on. I hope we can shake hands after our match is done. I hope we can be professional about this. Because you can still be the big dog in NAPW.
Just not until I'm ready to step aside.
See you Tuesday Billy.
Fade to Black.
Ravager: Josh, you really need to find a hobby..
Reynolds: We're on the same flight.
He holds up his ticket. Ravager grabs it, and checks it out.
Ravager: You're three rows back. Thank the Lord for that.
Reynolds: Do you think you're ready?
Ravager: When am I not?
Reynolds: Well, things seem to be working against you this time. An opponent on a hot streak....
Ravager: Rex Caliber. Lloyd Rees. Simply Beautiful. All had their hot runs ended by me.
Reynolds: You won't be the crowd favorite...
Ravager just glares.
Reynolds: Right, I guess that's never been an issue before. But the home town favorite...
Ravager: My very first night in NAPW, I took on the home town favorite. The man everybody wanted to win. And I took him out in grand fashion. And he's never been the same since. The fans can love me or hate me. I can't let their whims decide the course of the match. I have to rely on skills, not adoration from people, to come out on top. They can cheer whoever they want to. They paid to get in, they have that right. I get paid to put on the best match possible. And I earn my paycheck every match I'm in.
Reynolds: So, are you concerned about Kryenik?
Ravager: Of course. he's either going to come in on a high after winning his match. Or angry after losing. I'm hoping he comes in spent, because I'm going to need every edge I can get to win this one. But rest assured, I will win. Now, I don't want to be late for boarding. You better get checked in yourself.
Ravager walks off towards the boarding gate, leaving Josh behind.
Cut to inside the plane. Normally Ravager would do the road trip thing, (and after seeing Reynolds take his seat, he's wishing he had) but time got away from him this week. Maybe if he hadn't had to go back to Edmonton... no matter. He's on his way to Toronto. To face one of his stiffest challenges to date. In front of (possibly) a hostile crowd. With a pile of doubts crashing down on him. Not his own, but from fans and other wrestlers, who are seeing a new era for the NAPW. One that doesn't have Ravager as champion...
Surprisingly, I've never been to Toronto. Never had the need to up till now. All I hear about it is grumblings from the Westerners, how "In Toronto they think they're the center of the universe". And complaints that "we have the Maple Leafs rammed down our throats every Saturday night, even though we all know they'll be gone by the first round of the playoffs". Is this just spite? I thought so, but then I listen to Kryenik talk about taking the NAPW title home to Toronto. And I see all the predictions for our match, and it's almost a clean sweep for "Sick" Billy. All eyes are on you. It's like I'm keeping your seat warm for you until you're ready to take it. So many people want you to win the title from me, and are dead certain you'll do it. Now, will you live up to their lofty expectations, or will you crash and burn like the Maple Leaf's come April? (smirks) All I can say is, you better not let all the praise go to your head, because it'll hurt that much more when I drop you on it.
You say you're not Rex Caliber. I knew that already Billy. You're unlike anybody else I've ever faced one on one. I've made numerous mentions of your skills. Your fortitude. I never expected an easy night out of you. When we've matched up before, it's been a fight. Fights I've come out on top of. People never seem to mention that. You've never got the better of me, even with Deathrow and D! in your corner. And now? It's just you and I. And for some reason, I'm the underdog. After everything I've done since I arrived in the NAPW, I'm not being favored to win. Two time Provincial champion. Two time NAPW champion. The man who brought Pure Honor to NAPW. The winner of the House of Horrors at Anniversary Assault. I've left pools of my blood in arenas all over Western Canada. I expect to leave a few more in Toronto Tuesday night. But I've also spilled as much blood from my opponents. I don't need weapons. I proved that against Plague. But I'm more than happy to use them if they get brought in. I've put my body on the line against Static. I pushed myself to the brink of madness against Minstrel. I sacrificed goodwill from the fans, my home, and my reputation just to get a shot at D! You really think I'm not prepared for you? You think I won't bring everything I've got to this match? And do you really think that your old coach will prepare you for me? The biggest fight of your life? I hope he's not your last resort. Because my Last Resort? (chuckles) Is just a little bit more effective. You think your past will make you stronger. For a while I thought that. I thought it would give me that extra edge when I went after D! the first time. But it wasn't until I looked to the future that I was successful. The future I see has me leading the NAPW. It has me holding the NAPW title with pride and distinction. It has me fighting all comers. And you know what, Billy? I can see you there too. As a tag team specialist. As a leader for all those coming up the ranks. As an ally against The Untouchables. And maybe, someone I can pass the torch to. But not yet. Not Tuesday. I am going to leave a lot of fans in Toronto sorely disappointed. But given the past, I'm sure they'll get over it. Just like I'm sure you'll get over it. This will not be the worst thing that ever happens to you Billy. If anything, this will make you hungrier. Better. More determined, if that's possible. You'll tear a path through the tag division with Deathrow. You'll turn some heads, (maybe even twist a few off) and you'll be a bigger superstar. But it won't come at my expense. I can't let that happen. This is my time. I'm finally living up to expectations, and I refuse to let all that go away with one loss. I've learned to live with a loss. I've learned to come back from a loss. But it's painful. Aggravating. Humiliating. And the only way I can avoid these lessons is to win. I won't learn anything from you Billy. I've gotten all the knowledge I want for now. I just want to move on. I hope we can shake hands after our match is done. I hope we can be professional about this. Because you can still be the big dog in NAPW.
Just not until I'm ready to step aside.
See you Tuesday Billy.
Fade to Black.