Post by Alex Jones on Sept 17, 2010 20:59:17 GMT -6
It’s hard to say goodbye.....
The sun beats down on hallowed ground. Rows upon rows upon rows of gravestones litter the landscape. Two figures stand in front of one of them. Shelly and Alex. Bundled tight and warm in Alex’s arms is his newborn son Dylan. Shelly looks at her fiancé and smiles warmly. Alex leans forward and gives her a kiss on the cheek, she nods and slowly walks away. Alex looks down at his sleeping son with pride and joy. But a hint of sadness. Alex’s eyes focus back on the tombstone...a tombstone that reads...
Dylan Michael Jones
Born 3/5/1987
Died 10/4/2009
Alex swallows hard trying to think of something to say. He sighs deeply before finally speaking.
“I know I haven’t been around much. I’m sorry. I guess I....I don’t know. I haven’t been here since your funeral....Dylan, let me introduce you to your nephew...yeah...that’s right man, I have a son. We named him after you......”
Another pause, Alex’s fragile emotional state showing at this moment. A change from his usual calm, cocky exterior.
“I tried to take care of you. I really did. I tried to keep you out of trouble and I failed. I’m sorry Dylan. I really am. I hope someday we’ll see each other again..then I’ll ask for your forgiveness....I have to go D....remember I love you....”
Alex closes his eyes and breathes deep, he smiles looking at his son, he turns to the gravestone one last time and nods his head in a goodbye. He makes his way back to the car walking and weaving between gravestones. Alex stops at the car and loads his son into the car seat, he stands up and gives Shelly a kiss on the cheek as she gets into the car. Alex looks back at the cemetery and sighs again before getting into the car and driving off...
“So out of nowhere a huge opportunity drops in my lap.”
I sit alone at a table, my eyes darting back and forth as I think about all the variables. Like a mathematic equation the different additions to this match make for an unstable answer.
“I get a tag team title shot with Angel. All over a disagreement with Doc. It seems that Venom had no idea what was going on. But people are always questioning things. And one question that has come up is how can Angel and I co-exist just a month after almost killing each other. It’s a valid question, it really is. Angel and I fought and fought and fought, we did everything conceivable to not just beat the other guy but to end his career. He hated me, he wanted me dead, he wanted me buried and I believe if he would have caught me alone and with no witnesses...I’d be buried under his floorboards John Wayne Gacy style.”
“But what people fail to understand is when you go through that with someone. When you go through everything they do to you and come out of it alive a bond of respect forms. See Angel is a monster. That has never been under question. But he’s usually a monster with a morality system. He lost that when he fought Gib. He lost that morality that made him honorable and different. I wanted that back. But the only way to snap Angel out of it was to take something he valued more than any title, any object, any other person. His daughter. Don’t get me wrong I cared for Hayleigh and made sure she was safe, but her father was unstable, angry and a real monster.”
“I had to become worse, I had to become what I hated to make Angel see that sometimes he needs to step back from the monster and be a man, be a father. And he did. He came at me like a man possessed, a real loving father. Now that the dust has settled and Angel can see his mistakes he forgave mer. Admittedly I could have gone about it differently, I did things I’m not proud of, I did terrible things that many hate me for. Trust is something that needs to be earned. And there’s alot of people whose trust I need to earn back."
I sigh deeply and open my bottle of water. My mind races a million miles an hour trying to figure out what to say next.
“Friends who saw me couldn’t fathom it. They had no idea what I was doing, no one really accepted what I was doing. They all thought I was just being a cruel vindictive piece of crap. They all thought I’d stepped over that line, that one golden rule. You don’t mess with a guys family. I told everyone, over and over again that when I was sure Angel was a father, when I was sure he would cherish and love that little girl I’d step back and sign the papers. And when I saw that he was willing to put his career and life on the line, then it was obvious he was the man that his daughter remembered and needed.”
“You can hate my methods and doubt my sincerity, but you can’t argue with results. Angel is again back to who he really is. No longer consumed with the frustration and anger of the past. And if Angel can look inside himself and forgive me, why can’t anyone else?. Why do people doubt and blame and hate?. I tell people time and time again that I’ve changed for the better and tried to be a better man. But my past always bits me in the ass.....my past from a company that isn’t even around anymore.”
“When I came back I had a few select goals. One of them was to destroy Angel, another one was to beat Adam Knite and the last was to defeat Spike Kane. I won’t destroy Angel, Adam Knite and I have a standing truce and Spike Kane....well Spike has now retired from active competition. So I have a new goal, and it’s simply to be successful. Don’t get it twisted I’m already somewhat successful in what I do, I mean hey, not everyone can make a living out of this wonderful profession, but I can, what I mean by that is, I want to be the best at everything, the best tag team wrestler, the best technical wrestler, the most honorable wrestler, the world’s best, I want it all. Life is too short for personal vendetta’s and constantly looking to a past that is irrelevant...... “
I smile and shake my head, my mind flashes with memories from a broken past. A different man, a different goal.
Shelly, Angel and Alex are sitting at a park bench, Hayleigh off playing on the jungle gym with Tara. Shelly holds Dylan, Alex and her newborn son in her arms. Alex and Angel sit staring at each other with cards in each hand.
“You two mare so competitive, you can’t beat each other anymore so instead you do this?...”
Alex smirks and shoots a glance at Shelly.
“It’s either this or Call of Duty....but you said we needed to come outside and spend time as a family.”
Angel smiles and raises an eyebrow. They stare at each other for what seems like an eternity. Angel studies his cards as Alex tries not to break his concentration and psych Angel out. Angel looks to grab on card and stops, his eyes darting towards another.......then....
“Have you got any threes?.....”
The rush of adrenaline shoots through Alex’s body as he stands up in victory.
“GO FISH!”
Angel picks up another card looking rather angered, Alex looks over his cards for what sloe seems like an eternity before looking at Angel dead in the face.
“Have you got any kings?”
Angels demeanour changes as he looks almost defeated and hands over a king. Alex nods and smiles now that he holds just ONE card.
“Well...have you got any jacks?”
Angel starts laughing and he stands up pointing.
“No...GO FISH ALEX GO ****ING FISH!”
Alex slams his fist on the table and picks up a card, a smile comes over him as he slams the card down having picked up a Jack.
“YES!....YEEESSSSSSS!...I WIN YESSSS!”
Angel can’t believe it, he raises a fist to the heavens and screams rather melodramatically.
“NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!”
Both men stop their respective victory/defeat combo and notice that every other family in the park is watching them, little kids in mid game stop and stare, Alex and Angel look around and seem a little embarrassed. Angel picks up the cards and sits back down.
“Ok that’s two games to me on for you in our best of five fish challenge....”
Shelly rolls her eyes and walks off looking for Tara as Angel and Alex start another game...after the cards are dealt Angel looks at Alex....
“Got any six’s?”
“Venom. That name used to send shivers down my spine. Over the years there’s been a select few who I’ve considered to be “rivals”. Not just opponents, actual rivals. See I could a rival as someone who makes me step up my game when I face them. Doc does it, Angel does it, MGK did it and you Venom, you do it. You make me a better competitor, you make me step up and be what I always wanted to be. At least you used to. Now I’m not so sure.”
I sit alone again. The same table, the same time, a different subject.
“Now you’ve turned into Charlie’s lackey. You used to be the leader of the guns, you used to be their shining light. Now you’re just Charlie’s bitch. But hey you were the leader in XHF right?. And now that the company is dead you seem to have changed alot. Gone from being the franchise player of the young guns to being just another name, just another member. Maybe you want it that way, maybe you’re tired of being the leader. But this latest incarnation on the guns is rather strong I’ll give you that. I’ve always respected Charlie, Doc is a great competitor and JFK is finally living up to his potential. But even as good as you all are I wonder, can you beat a team like myself and Angel?.”
“This isn’t an arrogant question it’s a serious one. Angel and I know each other so well it’s uncanny. We’ve been in the ring as opponents countless times, I know him like the back of my hand. So while you and Doc are a team and you’ve been a team for a while Angel and I have destroyed each other and been to places that you can only read about in the revelations book of the bible. You and Doc don’t have the same dynamic, you’re buddies, you’re friends, you’re partners. Angel and I...we’re something different....we’re a force of nature.”
“But everyone has their beginnings. And when I first started in this business I idolised you. I saw a smaller guy, a light heavyweight, junior heavyweight, X-division star whatever you want to call it, I saw a smaller guy as the world champion decimating guys left and right. So I did follow you. I wanted to learn what made you so successful. And you want to know what I found?. I found that you got to be as good and as successful as you are by stepping on everyone you could and by using your little war tactics. So I copied you and guess what?...it worked. But as I’ve said, this was years ago...”
I chuckle a little and clasp my hands together.
“This is a different time now. A different company. Gone are the same backdoor politics. The same power hungry lunatic who wanted to give himself the world title. This is NCW, a company founded on true competition. When XHF restarted a short time ago, I stayed away. I stayed away because while I loved the original XHF, compared to NCW it was a living hell. Here I get treated with respect even if someone hates my guts. Here I don’t want to rip the guys throats out backstage. Here it just feels right....”
“You can keep dwelling on XHF all you want V. You and Doc can enjoy that. See while I may be guilty of treading on the past in NCW, what happened in NCW earlier in my career was relevant, what happened in XHF is not. I’ve grown up alot since then V, you and Doc don’t want to admit it and want to treat me like that same punk kid, fine, your mistake. You want to call me an idiot for teaming with a guy who’s as good as Angel, well then I guess I’m an idiot. But for you to say that I’ll never reach the top is kind of funny. You actually think that anything will stop me?. Trust me Venom, one day I will be World champion, but before then I’m going to be a tag team champion.....at your expense of course......”
“But it’s alright V, you come to the aid of Doc and just shrug off that his big mouth and stupidity got you into this mess, Angel and I will gladly take the last thing keeping you as a team......”
I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head a little.
“Let’s face it V, Doc is an ass. He’s an amazing performer with exceptional technical skills, but he’s still an ass. I may be an ass, I may be a jerk but I still have been accused of doing many things that I would never do. I’m done with it, I’m done with all of it. You and Doc want to live in the past and live back in XHF that’s fine, hell I can understand why. In XHF you and Doc DOMINATED guys like me. In XHF I was nothing compared to you guys. But in NCW, in NCW I have become better. And my vast improvement can be accounted for by looking at the competition I’ve faced. Everyone in NCW is worth their weight in gold when it comes to how good they are. Anyone can beat anyone else on any given day, just look at Freakke, looked upon as an also ran. People laughed when he beat me for the X-Division title, including you guys. But look what happened, lil ol Freakke, has now become National Champion and he did it by beating your fearless leader.....”
“Face it, the young guns and the front office are crumbling. You can’t have that many ego’s around and succeed. Xavier Cross turned his back on the front office and Steve Awesome, Steve is completely off the deep end, Charlie lost his belt, and now you two, you two have to face Angel a former world champion, one half of the longest reigning tag team champs in history, And me......well you all know about me. I’ve told you al time and time again about my accomplishments in NCW, who I’ve faced, who I’ve beaten. And soon I’m going to add two more names to that list, soon I’m going to add another title to my list. It’s not personal guys it really isn’t...I just want to succeed and build a life for my young son...”
“Yes, my newborn baby boy. I want Dylan to grow up being proud of me. I want Dylan to look up to me, not look at what I did in the past and think “what a douche”. Being a father changes things. Especially when you know the nature of the business. Doc has always been the most vocal about me. He’s always been the guy to automatically bring up my past and throw it in my face. I know I made mistakes, a younger AJ was a terrible person, but I have changed. And while I believe that Doc and Venom are a great team and great athletes, as human beings they both need to grow up and stop thinking of me as arrogant little AJ Phoenix.”
I turn my eyes and look up to a framed picture. My first national wrestling magazine cover. I smile and look away.
“AJ phoenix is long gone. He was an arrogant kid, a cocky child, pretty much he was the apotheosis of a spilt teenager. Here I stand, older and wiser. I’ve learnt from my mistakes and I am ready to account and atone for some of them.....but one thing I will never again regret is how much heart I have. It’s all about success and my legacy....and when all is said and done and people look back at this time in NCW, they’ll remember all of us.....celebrate all of us. And when I’m laying on my death bed, I hope my son and his children all know that I did this for them.....to provide for them......”
I put my head down and sigh as the scene fades to black
The sun beats down on hallowed ground. Rows upon rows upon rows of gravestones litter the landscape. Two figures stand in front of one of them. Shelly and Alex. Bundled tight and warm in Alex’s arms is his newborn son Dylan. Shelly looks at her fiancé and smiles warmly. Alex leans forward and gives her a kiss on the cheek, she nods and slowly walks away. Alex looks down at his sleeping son with pride and joy. But a hint of sadness. Alex’s eyes focus back on the tombstone...a tombstone that reads...
Dylan Michael Jones
Born 3/5/1987
Died 10/4/2009
Alex swallows hard trying to think of something to say. He sighs deeply before finally speaking.
“I know I haven’t been around much. I’m sorry. I guess I....I don’t know. I haven’t been here since your funeral....Dylan, let me introduce you to your nephew...yeah...that’s right man, I have a son. We named him after you......”
Another pause, Alex’s fragile emotional state showing at this moment. A change from his usual calm, cocky exterior.
“I tried to take care of you. I really did. I tried to keep you out of trouble and I failed. I’m sorry Dylan. I really am. I hope someday we’ll see each other again..then I’ll ask for your forgiveness....I have to go D....remember I love you....”
Alex closes his eyes and breathes deep, he smiles looking at his son, he turns to the gravestone one last time and nods his head in a goodbye. He makes his way back to the car walking and weaving between gravestones. Alex stops at the car and loads his son into the car seat, he stands up and gives Shelly a kiss on the cheek as she gets into the car. Alex looks back at the cemetery and sighs again before getting into the car and driving off...
“So out of nowhere a huge opportunity drops in my lap.”
I sit alone at a table, my eyes darting back and forth as I think about all the variables. Like a mathematic equation the different additions to this match make for an unstable answer.
“I get a tag team title shot with Angel. All over a disagreement with Doc. It seems that Venom had no idea what was going on. But people are always questioning things. And one question that has come up is how can Angel and I co-exist just a month after almost killing each other. It’s a valid question, it really is. Angel and I fought and fought and fought, we did everything conceivable to not just beat the other guy but to end his career. He hated me, he wanted me dead, he wanted me buried and I believe if he would have caught me alone and with no witnesses...I’d be buried under his floorboards John Wayne Gacy style.”
“But what people fail to understand is when you go through that with someone. When you go through everything they do to you and come out of it alive a bond of respect forms. See Angel is a monster. That has never been under question. But he’s usually a monster with a morality system. He lost that when he fought Gib. He lost that morality that made him honorable and different. I wanted that back. But the only way to snap Angel out of it was to take something he valued more than any title, any object, any other person. His daughter. Don’t get me wrong I cared for Hayleigh and made sure she was safe, but her father was unstable, angry and a real monster.”
“I had to become worse, I had to become what I hated to make Angel see that sometimes he needs to step back from the monster and be a man, be a father. And he did. He came at me like a man possessed, a real loving father. Now that the dust has settled and Angel can see his mistakes he forgave mer. Admittedly I could have gone about it differently, I did things I’m not proud of, I did terrible things that many hate me for. Trust is something that needs to be earned. And there’s alot of people whose trust I need to earn back."
I sigh deeply and open my bottle of water. My mind races a million miles an hour trying to figure out what to say next.
“Friends who saw me couldn’t fathom it. They had no idea what I was doing, no one really accepted what I was doing. They all thought I was just being a cruel vindictive piece of crap. They all thought I’d stepped over that line, that one golden rule. You don’t mess with a guys family. I told everyone, over and over again that when I was sure Angel was a father, when I was sure he would cherish and love that little girl I’d step back and sign the papers. And when I saw that he was willing to put his career and life on the line, then it was obvious he was the man that his daughter remembered and needed.”
“You can hate my methods and doubt my sincerity, but you can’t argue with results. Angel is again back to who he really is. No longer consumed with the frustration and anger of the past. And if Angel can look inside himself and forgive me, why can’t anyone else?. Why do people doubt and blame and hate?. I tell people time and time again that I’ve changed for the better and tried to be a better man. But my past always bits me in the ass.....my past from a company that isn’t even around anymore.”
“When I came back I had a few select goals. One of them was to destroy Angel, another one was to beat Adam Knite and the last was to defeat Spike Kane. I won’t destroy Angel, Adam Knite and I have a standing truce and Spike Kane....well Spike has now retired from active competition. So I have a new goal, and it’s simply to be successful. Don’t get it twisted I’m already somewhat successful in what I do, I mean hey, not everyone can make a living out of this wonderful profession, but I can, what I mean by that is, I want to be the best at everything, the best tag team wrestler, the best technical wrestler, the most honorable wrestler, the world’s best, I want it all. Life is too short for personal vendetta’s and constantly looking to a past that is irrelevant...... “
I smile and shake my head, my mind flashes with memories from a broken past. A different man, a different goal.
Shelly, Angel and Alex are sitting at a park bench, Hayleigh off playing on the jungle gym with Tara. Shelly holds Dylan, Alex and her newborn son in her arms. Alex and Angel sit staring at each other with cards in each hand.
“You two mare so competitive, you can’t beat each other anymore so instead you do this?...”
Alex smirks and shoots a glance at Shelly.
“It’s either this or Call of Duty....but you said we needed to come outside and spend time as a family.”
Angel smiles and raises an eyebrow. They stare at each other for what seems like an eternity. Angel studies his cards as Alex tries not to break his concentration and psych Angel out. Angel looks to grab on card and stops, his eyes darting towards another.......then....
“Have you got any threes?.....”
The rush of adrenaline shoots through Alex’s body as he stands up in victory.
“GO FISH!”
Angel picks up another card looking rather angered, Alex looks over his cards for what sloe seems like an eternity before looking at Angel dead in the face.
“Have you got any kings?”
Angels demeanour changes as he looks almost defeated and hands over a king. Alex nods and smiles now that he holds just ONE card.
“Well...have you got any jacks?”
Angel starts laughing and he stands up pointing.
“No...GO FISH ALEX GO ****ING FISH!”
Alex slams his fist on the table and picks up a card, a smile comes over him as he slams the card down having picked up a Jack.
“YES!....YEEESSSSSSS!...I WIN YESSSS!”
Angel can’t believe it, he raises a fist to the heavens and screams rather melodramatically.
“NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!”
Both men stop their respective victory/defeat combo and notice that every other family in the park is watching them, little kids in mid game stop and stare, Alex and Angel look around and seem a little embarrassed. Angel picks up the cards and sits back down.
“Ok that’s two games to me on for you in our best of five fish challenge....”
Shelly rolls her eyes and walks off looking for Tara as Angel and Alex start another game...after the cards are dealt Angel looks at Alex....
“Got any six’s?”
“Venom. That name used to send shivers down my spine. Over the years there’s been a select few who I’ve considered to be “rivals”. Not just opponents, actual rivals. See I could a rival as someone who makes me step up my game when I face them. Doc does it, Angel does it, MGK did it and you Venom, you do it. You make me a better competitor, you make me step up and be what I always wanted to be. At least you used to. Now I’m not so sure.”
I sit alone again. The same table, the same time, a different subject.
“Now you’ve turned into Charlie’s lackey. You used to be the leader of the guns, you used to be their shining light. Now you’re just Charlie’s bitch. But hey you were the leader in XHF right?. And now that the company is dead you seem to have changed alot. Gone from being the franchise player of the young guns to being just another name, just another member. Maybe you want it that way, maybe you’re tired of being the leader. But this latest incarnation on the guns is rather strong I’ll give you that. I’ve always respected Charlie, Doc is a great competitor and JFK is finally living up to his potential. But even as good as you all are I wonder, can you beat a team like myself and Angel?.”
“This isn’t an arrogant question it’s a serious one. Angel and I know each other so well it’s uncanny. We’ve been in the ring as opponents countless times, I know him like the back of my hand. So while you and Doc are a team and you’ve been a team for a while Angel and I have destroyed each other and been to places that you can only read about in the revelations book of the bible. You and Doc don’t have the same dynamic, you’re buddies, you’re friends, you’re partners. Angel and I...we’re something different....we’re a force of nature.”
“But everyone has their beginnings. And when I first started in this business I idolised you. I saw a smaller guy, a light heavyweight, junior heavyweight, X-division star whatever you want to call it, I saw a smaller guy as the world champion decimating guys left and right. So I did follow you. I wanted to learn what made you so successful. And you want to know what I found?. I found that you got to be as good and as successful as you are by stepping on everyone you could and by using your little war tactics. So I copied you and guess what?...it worked. But as I’ve said, this was years ago...”
I chuckle a little and clasp my hands together.
“This is a different time now. A different company. Gone are the same backdoor politics. The same power hungry lunatic who wanted to give himself the world title. This is NCW, a company founded on true competition. When XHF restarted a short time ago, I stayed away. I stayed away because while I loved the original XHF, compared to NCW it was a living hell. Here I get treated with respect even if someone hates my guts. Here I don’t want to rip the guys throats out backstage. Here it just feels right....”
“You can keep dwelling on XHF all you want V. You and Doc can enjoy that. See while I may be guilty of treading on the past in NCW, what happened in NCW earlier in my career was relevant, what happened in XHF is not. I’ve grown up alot since then V, you and Doc don’t want to admit it and want to treat me like that same punk kid, fine, your mistake. You want to call me an idiot for teaming with a guy who’s as good as Angel, well then I guess I’m an idiot. But for you to say that I’ll never reach the top is kind of funny. You actually think that anything will stop me?. Trust me Venom, one day I will be World champion, but before then I’m going to be a tag team champion.....at your expense of course......”
“But it’s alright V, you come to the aid of Doc and just shrug off that his big mouth and stupidity got you into this mess, Angel and I will gladly take the last thing keeping you as a team......”
I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head a little.
“Let’s face it V, Doc is an ass. He’s an amazing performer with exceptional technical skills, but he’s still an ass. I may be an ass, I may be a jerk but I still have been accused of doing many things that I would never do. I’m done with it, I’m done with all of it. You and Doc want to live in the past and live back in XHF that’s fine, hell I can understand why. In XHF you and Doc DOMINATED guys like me. In XHF I was nothing compared to you guys. But in NCW, in NCW I have become better. And my vast improvement can be accounted for by looking at the competition I’ve faced. Everyone in NCW is worth their weight in gold when it comes to how good they are. Anyone can beat anyone else on any given day, just look at Freakke, looked upon as an also ran. People laughed when he beat me for the X-Division title, including you guys. But look what happened, lil ol Freakke, has now become National Champion and he did it by beating your fearless leader.....”
“Face it, the young guns and the front office are crumbling. You can’t have that many ego’s around and succeed. Xavier Cross turned his back on the front office and Steve Awesome, Steve is completely off the deep end, Charlie lost his belt, and now you two, you two have to face Angel a former world champion, one half of the longest reigning tag team champs in history, And me......well you all know about me. I’ve told you al time and time again about my accomplishments in NCW, who I’ve faced, who I’ve beaten. And soon I’m going to add two more names to that list, soon I’m going to add another title to my list. It’s not personal guys it really isn’t...I just want to succeed and build a life for my young son...”
“Yes, my newborn baby boy. I want Dylan to grow up being proud of me. I want Dylan to look up to me, not look at what I did in the past and think “what a douche”. Being a father changes things. Especially when you know the nature of the business. Doc has always been the most vocal about me. He’s always been the guy to automatically bring up my past and throw it in my face. I know I made mistakes, a younger AJ was a terrible person, but I have changed. And while I believe that Doc and Venom are a great team and great athletes, as human beings they both need to grow up and stop thinking of me as arrogant little AJ Phoenix.”
I turn my eyes and look up to a framed picture. My first national wrestling magazine cover. I smile and look away.
“AJ phoenix is long gone. He was an arrogant kid, a cocky child, pretty much he was the apotheosis of a spilt teenager. Here I stand, older and wiser. I’ve learnt from my mistakes and I am ready to account and atone for some of them.....but one thing I will never again regret is how much heart I have. It’s all about success and my legacy....and when all is said and done and people look back at this time in NCW, they’ll remember all of us.....celebrate all of us. And when I’m laying on my death bed, I hope my son and his children all know that I did this for them.....to provide for them......”
I put my head down and sigh as the scene fades to black