Post by billmcneil on Jan 20, 2006 19:53:28 GMT -5
{The Late Night with Bill McNeil is on location today at the West Edmonton Mall’s Café Europa. . His guest is Ravager who is dressed sharp but comfortable in a nice blue Polo shirt and Khaki pants. They sit at a table after a meal, then the shows starts.}
Bill: Welcome Mr. Ravager, kind of a weird location you have for us.
Ravager: I didn't want to miss my movie. You didn't want to pre-tape an interview. This pace was close to the theatre. We all win. Have any trouble finding a parking spot?
Bill: Yeah just a tad, but my chauffeur finally made it in 20 minutes later. So you have a big match Monday, and you prepare by watching movies and harassing Kyle Roberts?
Ravager: I can't train 24/7 McNeil. And as for Roberts, well, if he had worn sensible shoes and paid attention to where he was going, he never would have slipped and fell into that fountain. If I hadn't grabbed him he may have broken his neck. It's hard to be selfless.
Bill: Sure... Yeah, well do you have any thoughts on who the mystery guy is in your match?
Ravager: It's hard to say. Thunder's partner tempest may be thrown in. "Moose" Miller made some noise over Christmas, but hasn't been seen since. Maybe this is the time he's been biding for. I can't waste my time speculating. I have to concentrate on the opponents I know about, then deal with any surprises that spring up later. Preparation only goes so far. Improvisation is what can make or break a match.
Bill: If you win, and obviously internet polls show you as a favorite, how fast will you take the championship opportunity?
Ravager: I never rush anything. When my hand is 100%, and when the champion is 100%, I'll be ready to claim my shot.
{Bill looks at Ravager shocked}
Bill: I can see letting your hand heal, but why the champion? That sounds downright stupid.
Ravager: After the loss to Minstrel, I fell into the excuses game. I'm not going to let that happen again. I don't want anyone to have an excuse for losing the match, other than "the best man won". And more often than not, I'm the best man.
Bill: We talking weddings or are we talking wrestling, Anyway in my last few columns I've expressed a need for people like you to be fined and suspended. You and some of the other members of that locker room have started doing malicious acts of violence. Your view on this trend, and do you apologize for being a fire starter so to speak?
Ravager: I step up when I need to step up. When I fought Misery, we had a man who was threatening my family. So I had to get nasty or else other people may think they can take liberties. Mirage had who knows how many of his minions chasing me around. And keep in mind, the match we had was four on one. I don't apologize for that. Minstrel? He got in my head. But he doesn't acknowledge pain anyways, so why should I feel bad. And Static? The match was made by NAPW. I had nothing to do with the falls count anywhere stipulation. Someone really wanted Static and I to injure each other. We were happy to oblige. I don't have to make any apologies for what I've done.
Bill: I see, but children look up to you, why...I don't know. But they see you hitting people with light bulbs and accepting cheap victories, what kind of role model are you? You have to feel bad for being responsible for kids doing that to each other.
Ravager: Cheap victories? The very first NAPW match. Ravager vs Mark Miller. Clean Victory for Ravager. When I won the title the second time, it was a clean victory. I pinned Misery and Static within the rules of the match. Axel Jaxx was a clean victory for me as well. It's a cliché for an athlete to say this, but I never asked to be a role model. Any kid who tries to follow in my footsteps needs serious attention from their parents. I will not be a scapegoat for negligent parents. I've been asked before "how do I get into wrestling". I'll say it right now. Finish school. Travel a bit. Make up your mind before you give your life and sacrifice your body for this business.
Bill: So point blank do you give a damn about the fans?
Ravager: They keep me employed. I appreciate that. And if they demand that I be put in a match where I'll spill my own blood, and my opponents blood, I'll do it. But don't make me into some kind of monster for putting on the show people want to see.
{Bill smirks at Ravager}
Bill: Monster... What is your second job??
Ravager: I deliver messages. Loudly if I have to. But I always get my point across. And don't smirk at me like that McNeil, the people who've crossed me are hardly worth shedding a tear for.
Bill: Yeah.. and I suppose that some messages are written in blood. But anyway you’re like Batman, I suppose, hurting people in the name of justice except you get paid...
Ravager: If I were a billionaire I'd do it for free, but we can't always get what we want. I mean, look at you. You want so badly to be Letterman, but you're barely on par with Ellen.
Bill: Ah yes but you want to be a champion but you're only on par with... Joey Malone.
Ravager: Why don't you set aside your petty vendetta and ask me about my match. Predator? Big, strong, but he's looking too far ahead. Technique? Young, and I've beaten him before. Too much too soon. Lobo, never beaten anyone worth mentioning. Thunder? Tag wrestler with one win in total. And the mystery guy. All of whom have not come close to doing what I've done.
Bill: True, but beating up jobber’s don't make you a championship material.
Ravager: The jobber's? They all wanted to make a name for themselves. They all took the first shot. I took the last shot. Simple as that. For the first month NAPW was on the air, I wrestled on every show. D! can't say he did that. Plague didn't. Neither did Static. I worked my ass off to make NAPW what it is, and I will not be overlooked or dismissed by a has been with a microphone.
Bill: It kills you to see Casino come in and win that belt in 3 matches, when you have to win a crazy match just to get a shot.
Ravager: I got the Provincial belt my first night. Timing. Casino had good timing. But his time will run out. There are a locker room full of guys wanting to take him apart. If D! doesn't do it, I will. If I don't, Predator will try. then Technique, then J.C. Cook, then so on. Casino is learning what it means to be champion. He may act all smug in his hotel, but he's not leaving his hotel. I'm out in the open, D!'s on a spirit quest, Predator is... doing stuff, everyone is out living as well as preparing, while Casino is curled up in his hotel suite, cradling the title that makes him complete.
Bill: Well that's all the time we have.. say bye to the future NAPW TV champ... Ravager
Ravager: Pleasure's all your McNeil.
{Ravager grabs McNeil's tie. He stabs a fork in it, pinning McNeil to the table.}
Ravager: And remember, the best journalist, is an impartial journalist. Have a good night, and I'll be looking for whatever "performance enhancement" infomercial you'll be doing next.
{As Ravager exits.}
Ravager: And thanks for the meal!!
{Waitress drops off check as Bill desperately tries to free his tie.}
Bill: Someone HELP ME!!
{co written with Ravager}
Bill: Welcome Mr. Ravager, kind of a weird location you have for us.
Ravager: I didn't want to miss my movie. You didn't want to pre-tape an interview. This pace was close to the theatre. We all win. Have any trouble finding a parking spot?
Bill: Yeah just a tad, but my chauffeur finally made it in 20 minutes later. So you have a big match Monday, and you prepare by watching movies and harassing Kyle Roberts?
Ravager: I can't train 24/7 McNeil. And as for Roberts, well, if he had worn sensible shoes and paid attention to where he was going, he never would have slipped and fell into that fountain. If I hadn't grabbed him he may have broken his neck. It's hard to be selfless.
Bill: Sure... Yeah, well do you have any thoughts on who the mystery guy is in your match?
Ravager: It's hard to say. Thunder's partner tempest may be thrown in. "Moose" Miller made some noise over Christmas, but hasn't been seen since. Maybe this is the time he's been biding for. I can't waste my time speculating. I have to concentrate on the opponents I know about, then deal with any surprises that spring up later. Preparation only goes so far. Improvisation is what can make or break a match.
Bill: If you win, and obviously internet polls show you as a favorite, how fast will you take the championship opportunity?
Ravager: I never rush anything. When my hand is 100%, and when the champion is 100%, I'll be ready to claim my shot.
{Bill looks at Ravager shocked}
Bill: I can see letting your hand heal, but why the champion? That sounds downright stupid.
Ravager: After the loss to Minstrel, I fell into the excuses game. I'm not going to let that happen again. I don't want anyone to have an excuse for losing the match, other than "the best man won". And more often than not, I'm the best man.
Bill: We talking weddings or are we talking wrestling, Anyway in my last few columns I've expressed a need for people like you to be fined and suspended. You and some of the other members of that locker room have started doing malicious acts of violence. Your view on this trend, and do you apologize for being a fire starter so to speak?
Ravager: I step up when I need to step up. When I fought Misery, we had a man who was threatening my family. So I had to get nasty or else other people may think they can take liberties. Mirage had who knows how many of his minions chasing me around. And keep in mind, the match we had was four on one. I don't apologize for that. Minstrel? He got in my head. But he doesn't acknowledge pain anyways, so why should I feel bad. And Static? The match was made by NAPW. I had nothing to do with the falls count anywhere stipulation. Someone really wanted Static and I to injure each other. We were happy to oblige. I don't have to make any apologies for what I've done.
Bill: I see, but children look up to you, why...I don't know. But they see you hitting people with light bulbs and accepting cheap victories, what kind of role model are you? You have to feel bad for being responsible for kids doing that to each other.
Ravager: Cheap victories? The very first NAPW match. Ravager vs Mark Miller. Clean Victory for Ravager. When I won the title the second time, it was a clean victory. I pinned Misery and Static within the rules of the match. Axel Jaxx was a clean victory for me as well. It's a cliché for an athlete to say this, but I never asked to be a role model. Any kid who tries to follow in my footsteps needs serious attention from their parents. I will not be a scapegoat for negligent parents. I've been asked before "how do I get into wrestling". I'll say it right now. Finish school. Travel a bit. Make up your mind before you give your life and sacrifice your body for this business.
Bill: So point blank do you give a damn about the fans?
Ravager: They keep me employed. I appreciate that. And if they demand that I be put in a match where I'll spill my own blood, and my opponents blood, I'll do it. But don't make me into some kind of monster for putting on the show people want to see.
{Bill smirks at Ravager}
Bill: Monster... What is your second job??
Ravager: I deliver messages. Loudly if I have to. But I always get my point across. And don't smirk at me like that McNeil, the people who've crossed me are hardly worth shedding a tear for.
Bill: Yeah.. and I suppose that some messages are written in blood. But anyway you’re like Batman, I suppose, hurting people in the name of justice except you get paid...
Ravager: If I were a billionaire I'd do it for free, but we can't always get what we want. I mean, look at you. You want so badly to be Letterman, but you're barely on par with Ellen.
Bill: Ah yes but you want to be a champion but you're only on par with... Joey Malone.
Ravager: Why don't you set aside your petty vendetta and ask me about my match. Predator? Big, strong, but he's looking too far ahead. Technique? Young, and I've beaten him before. Too much too soon. Lobo, never beaten anyone worth mentioning. Thunder? Tag wrestler with one win in total. And the mystery guy. All of whom have not come close to doing what I've done.
Bill: True, but beating up jobber’s don't make you a championship material.
Ravager: The jobber's? They all wanted to make a name for themselves. They all took the first shot. I took the last shot. Simple as that. For the first month NAPW was on the air, I wrestled on every show. D! can't say he did that. Plague didn't. Neither did Static. I worked my ass off to make NAPW what it is, and I will not be overlooked or dismissed by a has been with a microphone.
Bill: It kills you to see Casino come in and win that belt in 3 matches, when you have to win a crazy match just to get a shot.
Ravager: I got the Provincial belt my first night. Timing. Casino had good timing. But his time will run out. There are a locker room full of guys wanting to take him apart. If D! doesn't do it, I will. If I don't, Predator will try. then Technique, then J.C. Cook, then so on. Casino is learning what it means to be champion. He may act all smug in his hotel, but he's not leaving his hotel. I'm out in the open, D!'s on a spirit quest, Predator is... doing stuff, everyone is out living as well as preparing, while Casino is curled up in his hotel suite, cradling the title that makes him complete.
Bill: Well that's all the time we have.. say bye to the future NAPW TV champ... Ravager
Ravager: Pleasure's all your McNeil.
{Ravager grabs McNeil's tie. He stabs a fork in it, pinning McNeil to the table.}
Ravager: And remember, the best journalist, is an impartial journalist. Have a good night, and I'll be looking for whatever "performance enhancement" infomercial you'll be doing next.
{As Ravager exits.}
Ravager: And thanks for the meal!!
{Waitress drops off check as Bill desperately tries to free his tie.}
Bill: Someone HELP ME!!
{co written with Ravager}