Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2011 14:34:05 GMT -6
There is no smoke without fire.
I could parade a few more tired clichés out if you’d like, but I think you get the drift already Christian. Is it pretty obvious that I disagree entirely with your assertion that I am a paranoid conspiracy theorist yet? Save me your pity Gardner, the fact is that I’m perfectly sane regardless of what the NCW rabble babble on the grapevine may imply.
Paranoia is defined as “baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of others.” Or, perhaps more appropriately “a mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions and the projection of personal conflicts, which are ascribed to the supposed hostility of others, sometimes progressing to disturbances of consciousness and aggressive acts believed to be performed in self-defense or as a mission.”
I am sure that fits some people’s perceptions of my mental state pretty much to a tee, after all ever since I walked into this decadent and corrupt organisation I have been preaching about my “mission” to destroy the hegemony of Leonard Fox and reform NCW to better serve those it claims to work for, that being the paying public who fuel this monetary behemoth naturally. Seems to fit doesn’t it, only there is one very small incey wincey little problem with the assertion that I am suffering some sort of paranoid delusions about “the system being against me”.
I am not deluded.
To avoid being simplistic perhaps I should explain myself a little more, after all I like to talk right? Obviously the rest of this federation are mutes but I digress. There is quite clearly more to this weekend’s triple threat than meets the eye, hell there is rather blatantly plenty of espionage and mind games going on in this company in general. Don’t believe me? Let’s step back and take a look at this from afar.
I pull another little stunt on Collision after weeks of being buried in the mid-card with no real sense of direction and little signs of any meaningful involvement in NCW Battlegrounds and hours later I find myself booked to defend my belt against not just one man, but two. Not only that I find myself in a match where theoretically I can lose the National Championship whilst continuing to avoid being pinned, all it requires is a little distraction and either of you can walk out of Battlegrounds without ever beating the man that matters. Seems a little strange doesn’t it? Don’t agree?
Well, let’s have a little look at you Chris. You waltzed back in and got ****ed by Todd Williams, an unenviable honour previously held by only Crystal Hilton and then begun to pick yourself up and put in a few decent performances and yet suddenly you’re in line for a National Championship shot? The second biggest prize in NCW is suddenly on your radar professionally despite having being back all of five seconds? Do you really think you’d be getting this opportunity if I hadn’t upset the one man in this company who is looking for a way of stacking the odds against me? You may not be “in on it” but don’t be naïve enough to believe that your involvement is purely on merit, because it isn’t. That isn’t to say you’re not talented, but it takes more than one victory to truly earn a shot at this title.
Perhaps it is merely a distraction planted in some vain attempt at mind games, a simple swerve ball to keep me on my toes and this match will go ahead without any murky incidents. Perhaps. Let’s just avoid pretending that this is just a crackpot conspiracy theory dreamt up by me and Alex.
That, however, doesn’t mean that all these endless possibilities are a bad thing Christian. I know Leonard isn’t going to play nice, I’m not stupid enough to think that I can piss all over the CEO of NCW and get away with it scot free, if anything knowing that he is clearly up to something makes this match even more exciting. For the neutral, for our fans and ultimately us, that is of course if you are not immune to the adrenaline rush uncertainty can bring. Despite all three of us aimlessly pursuing our goals for the past month it is us that find ourselves in the single most exciting prospect of a match at Battlegrounds.
Not Steve Awesome, not Rob Diamond, not Xander Famularo, not even your sister Alyson.
Us.
We have been side lined by the writers and Board of Directors to further the careers of those whose idiosyncrasies are deemed more “engaging” for the audience, who tow the party line and perform their roles like perfect little soldiers. No longer, this is our time to outshine the established “superstars”, to make names of ourselves and force ourselves into the spotlight instead of curtain jerking whilst the same tired old “competitors” are trotted out night after night.
Christian, whether I truly believe you warrant a place in this three way match is redundant now. The situation is that I must defend my title against you and Alex and whether there is a conspiracy or not, those are the rules under which I will defend this belt. I am a fighting champion and I have never ever pretended to be anything but that, I will go down to that ring and do my job as professionally as I always do and I expect precisely the same from the both of you.
I am not banking on either of you making a mistake, nor am I naïve enough to not presume you are both credible threats to my belt. Either one of you could walk out of Battlegrounds as a champion, but the only problem I have with that is that I intend to walk in one and leave as one.
This belt has a history to envy, one that I have every intention of enriching further. Half-assing it out there and blaming some sort of conspiracy for my failures will not be the way I will be remembered as a champion. I will do this championship proud whether I do it once, twice or one hundred times, no matter what this Sunday I will give everything I have got to defend this belt and everything to ensure I retain it in the future.
You’ve beaten me once before Christian, but I am a different prospect all together now. We both know that, so come this Sunday it is time to determine which one of us has come the farthest because you can undo all my hard work in one single match.
Just don’t expect me to go down easily.
Hannah paces to and fro, a series of documents clasped in her right hand and a phone in her left. She fires out a few numbers, responding to an unheard voice at the other end of the device as Roberto sits on a chair flicking through TV channels in the pairs hotel room. Hannah suddenly tosses the documents to one side and exchanges pleasantries with the other end of the conversation before hanging up the phone and pausing for a moment, taking a deep breath before patting down her dress suit and turning towards the National Champion.
Hannah Reed : Well, that is the last of your fine paid off. I guess that’ll pay for the champagne for the Board of Director’s special guests in the VIP boxes.
Roberto Verona : Heaven forbid they don’t have their caviar, whatever will the poor devils do?
Hannah Reed : Stop paying their sponsorship I imagine.
Roberto grins.
Roberto Verona : Maybe we should spoil their fun in that case.
Hannah Reed : Maybe another time champ, you need to focus on defending your title and pissing Leonard Fox off with your antics later. After all you’ll look like the fool losing that belt and then ranting at him about it.
Roberto Verona : Fair point. Spoil sport.
Hannah taps Roberto on the shoulder playfully.
Hannah Reed : You don’t want to waste all your ideas at once do you mister?
Roberto Verona : I could write a book on how to piss off your boss, don’t worry about that pool drying up. Let’s worry more about my money drying up before that.
Hannah nods, looking over a few papers covered with figures.
Hannah Reed : You’ve got a long while before we need to worry about that, plus you’ve got a boatload of people lining up to sponsor you.
Roberto Verona : Well, people love controversy don’t they. Although I don’t think we’ll need to get to the point where I have to sell my soul to Budweiser or McDonald’s.
Hannah Reed : Damn, I was looking forward to a McVerona Sandwich.
Roberto Verona : Bring over your friend Alison and maybe you can have a taste.
Roberto laughs as Hannah shakes her head in mocked disgust.
Hannah Reed : If you can drag your mind out of the gutter for more than five seconds we really ought to think about meeting the merchandise executives you asked me to contact.
Roberto sighs, leaning back for a moment before shaking his head.
Roberto Verona : Can’t you deal with that for me?
Hannah Reed : I assumed that might be your response so I already arranged a time with them earlier.
Roberto Verona : So why ask me to come along?
Hannah Reed : I hoped you’d come and help me clean up the mess you started, I knew better, you’re a typical man.
Roberto Verona : Oh don’t act like you don’t like it, you love negotiating, you don’t need me there getting in the way.
Hannah pauses for a second.
Hannah Reed : On second thoughts, you’re right, I don’t want you screwing it up.
Roberto Verona : Glad I could help.
Hannah brushes past Roberto, heading towards the exit before turning suddenly.
Hannah Reed : I will see you later. Just…don’t get me into more trouble whilst I am gone.
Roberto crosses his heart mockingly as Hannah laughs, leaving Verona by himself.
Alex, I must say your involvement in this match, unlike Christian’s, does not surprise me in the slightest.
Granted you’re entitled to a re-match I am sure it is in our contracts somewhere or hidden away inside the “rulebook” but that isn’t why I am not shocked in the slightest to be lining up across that ring from you for the second pay-per-view running. No.
Let me ask you a question Alex, what is the best way to keep your enemies occupied and off your back?
Is it to pander to their egos and shower them with the potential for glory?
Is it to get other people to do your dirty business for you?
Or is it to force them to go war with one another?
If you aren’t getting where I am going with this, let me make it simple. I’m not surprised to see another man who is calling Leonard Fox on his bull**** lining up to face me at Battlegrounds, on the contrary I was certain that eventually he’d want us to go back to fighting each other to –pre-occupy us from our greater goals.
Not that it will really effect anything Alex, we both know that is the reason alongside your obvious entitlement to a re-match and neither of us will let it affect our performance, because neither of us are on Leonard’s leash and hey, Christian might not be either, who can blame him for taking this opportunity? I know I can’t, in his position I would be doing exactly the same thing make no mistake about it. I’d also be doing exactly the same thing as you, and getting ready to throw respect out of the window and give me hell to reclaim this championship.
I would never deny that we threw everything into that ring a month ago, you did everything in your power to make sure you left a champion and with a bit of luck maybe you would have. However, history will dictate that on that occasion you just weren’t good enough, but that doesn’t mean I am stupid or self-centred enough to think that I am automatically going to repeat the feat on virtue of a solitary victory over you. Just like Christian having beaten me in our only encounter, this weekend will be a whole different ball game for all three of us.
This time I am the National champion and I must bear the burden of the pressure that brings, now you are the challenger who has everything to gain by beating me and Christian is the wildcard who has been rewarded for whatever reason and can profit enormously despite having being back a relatively short period.
Everything is different from the last time we faced, from the numbers, the situation and the location. We are
Well, everything but the mutual respect at least. I’m flattered Alex, I really am and of course I am well aware that just because you think highly of me doesn’t mean you’ll pass up an opportunity to get one over me and advance your own career ahead of mine, after all what good does it do you in the long run if you aid my career? Absolutely nothing.
You’re right, when it comes to this Sunday feeling become irrelevant. You will do everything you can to make sure I enjoy a short reign as National Champion and you expand your trophy cabinet even further to cement your claim to a shot at the World Champion, regardless of who that may be come Monday. I know that you don’t care ultimately if I am or I aren’t a 35 day champion, hell deep down you know that even if I am it won’t really affect me, I’ve taken knocks before, I lost to Xander but I dusted myself off and took this belt from you.
So no, I’m not scared that you could end my run prematurely, I’m more scared that you could pin Christian and end my run because truth be told, if you manage to pin me cleanly I will have absolutely no arguments. If you beat me fair and square I will lick my wounds and regroup like I have in the past and go after my ultimate goal, just like I will do if I beat you this Sunday. I have no fear about this match, merely doubts, although I am sure people can make a case that they are on in the same, wrong as they’d be.
I know that everybody thinks you’re going to lose, and Christian too, now that I’ve comprehensively proven myself suddenly I’m flavour of the month and whilst the odds are stacked against me in the minds of the Board of Directors everyone else seems to believe I am going to walk it this week. Don’t worry, I’m not that gullible, it is nice that finally my exploits are being praised but this is my toughest test yet and there is absolutely no guarantee I will be leaving champion hell I might not even lose and still have to kiss goodbye to my belt.
So let’s forget all the hype from outside sources, because that will not guarantee me a victory at all. You have everything it takes to wrestle my belt from me and I know that you’re looking to redeem yourself and show everybody that you can beat the brightest prospect in this company and I don’t blame you.
Bring all that fire burning deep down inside you Alex, rise up from the flames like your nickname demands and give me everything you’ve got because it will be a battle on Sunday, but no matter what it is just the start of the war.
Leonard Fox, prepare for the beginning of the end, you’re on the road to getting what is coming to you and it won’t be a minute too soon.
Viva La Révolution.
I could parade a few more tired clichés out if you’d like, but I think you get the drift already Christian. Is it pretty obvious that I disagree entirely with your assertion that I am a paranoid conspiracy theorist yet? Save me your pity Gardner, the fact is that I’m perfectly sane regardless of what the NCW rabble babble on the grapevine may imply.
Paranoia is defined as “baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of others.” Or, perhaps more appropriately “a mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions and the projection of personal conflicts, which are ascribed to the supposed hostility of others, sometimes progressing to disturbances of consciousness and aggressive acts believed to be performed in self-defense or as a mission.”
I am sure that fits some people’s perceptions of my mental state pretty much to a tee, after all ever since I walked into this decadent and corrupt organisation I have been preaching about my “mission” to destroy the hegemony of Leonard Fox and reform NCW to better serve those it claims to work for, that being the paying public who fuel this monetary behemoth naturally. Seems to fit doesn’t it, only there is one very small incey wincey little problem with the assertion that I am suffering some sort of paranoid delusions about “the system being against me”.
I am not deluded.
To avoid being simplistic perhaps I should explain myself a little more, after all I like to talk right? Obviously the rest of this federation are mutes but I digress. There is quite clearly more to this weekend’s triple threat than meets the eye, hell there is rather blatantly plenty of espionage and mind games going on in this company in general. Don’t believe me? Let’s step back and take a look at this from afar.
I pull another little stunt on Collision after weeks of being buried in the mid-card with no real sense of direction and little signs of any meaningful involvement in NCW Battlegrounds and hours later I find myself booked to defend my belt against not just one man, but two. Not only that I find myself in a match where theoretically I can lose the National Championship whilst continuing to avoid being pinned, all it requires is a little distraction and either of you can walk out of Battlegrounds without ever beating the man that matters. Seems a little strange doesn’t it? Don’t agree?
Well, let’s have a little look at you Chris. You waltzed back in and got ****ed by Todd Williams, an unenviable honour previously held by only Crystal Hilton and then begun to pick yourself up and put in a few decent performances and yet suddenly you’re in line for a National Championship shot? The second biggest prize in NCW is suddenly on your radar professionally despite having being back all of five seconds? Do you really think you’d be getting this opportunity if I hadn’t upset the one man in this company who is looking for a way of stacking the odds against me? You may not be “in on it” but don’t be naïve enough to believe that your involvement is purely on merit, because it isn’t. That isn’t to say you’re not talented, but it takes more than one victory to truly earn a shot at this title.
Perhaps it is merely a distraction planted in some vain attempt at mind games, a simple swerve ball to keep me on my toes and this match will go ahead without any murky incidents. Perhaps. Let’s just avoid pretending that this is just a crackpot conspiracy theory dreamt up by me and Alex.
That, however, doesn’t mean that all these endless possibilities are a bad thing Christian. I know Leonard isn’t going to play nice, I’m not stupid enough to think that I can piss all over the CEO of NCW and get away with it scot free, if anything knowing that he is clearly up to something makes this match even more exciting. For the neutral, for our fans and ultimately us, that is of course if you are not immune to the adrenaline rush uncertainty can bring. Despite all three of us aimlessly pursuing our goals for the past month it is us that find ourselves in the single most exciting prospect of a match at Battlegrounds.
Not Steve Awesome, not Rob Diamond, not Xander Famularo, not even your sister Alyson.
Us.
We have been side lined by the writers and Board of Directors to further the careers of those whose idiosyncrasies are deemed more “engaging” for the audience, who tow the party line and perform their roles like perfect little soldiers. No longer, this is our time to outshine the established “superstars”, to make names of ourselves and force ourselves into the spotlight instead of curtain jerking whilst the same tired old “competitors” are trotted out night after night.
Christian, whether I truly believe you warrant a place in this three way match is redundant now. The situation is that I must defend my title against you and Alex and whether there is a conspiracy or not, those are the rules under which I will defend this belt. I am a fighting champion and I have never ever pretended to be anything but that, I will go down to that ring and do my job as professionally as I always do and I expect precisely the same from the both of you.
I am not banking on either of you making a mistake, nor am I naïve enough to not presume you are both credible threats to my belt. Either one of you could walk out of Battlegrounds as a champion, but the only problem I have with that is that I intend to walk in one and leave as one.
This belt has a history to envy, one that I have every intention of enriching further. Half-assing it out there and blaming some sort of conspiracy for my failures will not be the way I will be remembered as a champion. I will do this championship proud whether I do it once, twice or one hundred times, no matter what this Sunday I will give everything I have got to defend this belt and everything to ensure I retain it in the future.
You’ve beaten me once before Christian, but I am a different prospect all together now. We both know that, so come this Sunday it is time to determine which one of us has come the farthest because you can undo all my hard work in one single match.
Just don’t expect me to go down easily.
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Hannah paces to and fro, a series of documents clasped in her right hand and a phone in her left. She fires out a few numbers, responding to an unheard voice at the other end of the device as Roberto sits on a chair flicking through TV channels in the pairs hotel room. Hannah suddenly tosses the documents to one side and exchanges pleasantries with the other end of the conversation before hanging up the phone and pausing for a moment, taking a deep breath before patting down her dress suit and turning towards the National Champion.
Hannah Reed : Well, that is the last of your fine paid off. I guess that’ll pay for the champagne for the Board of Director’s special guests in the VIP boxes.
Roberto Verona : Heaven forbid they don’t have their caviar, whatever will the poor devils do?
Hannah Reed : Stop paying their sponsorship I imagine.
Roberto grins.
Roberto Verona : Maybe we should spoil their fun in that case.
Hannah Reed : Maybe another time champ, you need to focus on defending your title and pissing Leonard Fox off with your antics later. After all you’ll look like the fool losing that belt and then ranting at him about it.
Roberto Verona : Fair point. Spoil sport.
Hannah taps Roberto on the shoulder playfully.
Hannah Reed : You don’t want to waste all your ideas at once do you mister?
Roberto Verona : I could write a book on how to piss off your boss, don’t worry about that pool drying up. Let’s worry more about my money drying up before that.
Hannah nods, looking over a few papers covered with figures.
Hannah Reed : You’ve got a long while before we need to worry about that, plus you’ve got a boatload of people lining up to sponsor you.
Roberto Verona : Well, people love controversy don’t they. Although I don’t think we’ll need to get to the point where I have to sell my soul to Budweiser or McDonald’s.
Hannah Reed : Damn, I was looking forward to a McVerona Sandwich.
Roberto Verona : Bring over your friend Alison and maybe you can have a taste.
Roberto laughs as Hannah shakes her head in mocked disgust.
Hannah Reed : If you can drag your mind out of the gutter for more than five seconds we really ought to think about meeting the merchandise executives you asked me to contact.
Roberto sighs, leaning back for a moment before shaking his head.
Roberto Verona : Can’t you deal with that for me?
Hannah Reed : I assumed that might be your response so I already arranged a time with them earlier.
Roberto Verona : So why ask me to come along?
Hannah Reed : I hoped you’d come and help me clean up the mess you started, I knew better, you’re a typical man.
Roberto Verona : Oh don’t act like you don’t like it, you love negotiating, you don’t need me there getting in the way.
Hannah pauses for a second.
Hannah Reed : On second thoughts, you’re right, I don’t want you screwing it up.
Roberto Verona : Glad I could help.
Hannah brushes past Roberto, heading towards the exit before turning suddenly.
Hannah Reed : I will see you later. Just…don’t get me into more trouble whilst I am gone.
Roberto crosses his heart mockingly as Hannah laughs, leaving Verona by himself.
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Alex, I must say your involvement in this match, unlike Christian’s, does not surprise me in the slightest.
Granted you’re entitled to a re-match I am sure it is in our contracts somewhere or hidden away inside the “rulebook” but that isn’t why I am not shocked in the slightest to be lining up across that ring from you for the second pay-per-view running. No.
Let me ask you a question Alex, what is the best way to keep your enemies occupied and off your back?
Is it to pander to their egos and shower them with the potential for glory?
Is it to get other people to do your dirty business for you?
Or is it to force them to go war with one another?
If you aren’t getting where I am going with this, let me make it simple. I’m not surprised to see another man who is calling Leonard Fox on his bull**** lining up to face me at Battlegrounds, on the contrary I was certain that eventually he’d want us to go back to fighting each other to –pre-occupy us from our greater goals.
Not that it will really effect anything Alex, we both know that is the reason alongside your obvious entitlement to a re-match and neither of us will let it affect our performance, because neither of us are on Leonard’s leash and hey, Christian might not be either, who can blame him for taking this opportunity? I know I can’t, in his position I would be doing exactly the same thing make no mistake about it. I’d also be doing exactly the same thing as you, and getting ready to throw respect out of the window and give me hell to reclaim this championship.
I would never deny that we threw everything into that ring a month ago, you did everything in your power to make sure you left a champion and with a bit of luck maybe you would have. However, history will dictate that on that occasion you just weren’t good enough, but that doesn’t mean I am stupid or self-centred enough to think that I am automatically going to repeat the feat on virtue of a solitary victory over you. Just like Christian having beaten me in our only encounter, this weekend will be a whole different ball game for all three of us.
This time I am the National champion and I must bear the burden of the pressure that brings, now you are the challenger who has everything to gain by beating me and Christian is the wildcard who has been rewarded for whatever reason and can profit enormously despite having being back a relatively short period.
Everything is different from the last time we faced, from the numbers, the situation and the location. We are
Well, everything but the mutual respect at least. I’m flattered Alex, I really am and of course I am well aware that just because you think highly of me doesn’t mean you’ll pass up an opportunity to get one over me and advance your own career ahead of mine, after all what good does it do you in the long run if you aid my career? Absolutely nothing.
You’re right, when it comes to this Sunday feeling become irrelevant. You will do everything you can to make sure I enjoy a short reign as National Champion and you expand your trophy cabinet even further to cement your claim to a shot at the World Champion, regardless of who that may be come Monday. I know that you don’t care ultimately if I am or I aren’t a 35 day champion, hell deep down you know that even if I am it won’t really affect me, I’ve taken knocks before, I lost to Xander but I dusted myself off and took this belt from you.
So no, I’m not scared that you could end my run prematurely, I’m more scared that you could pin Christian and end my run because truth be told, if you manage to pin me cleanly I will have absolutely no arguments. If you beat me fair and square I will lick my wounds and regroup like I have in the past and go after my ultimate goal, just like I will do if I beat you this Sunday. I have no fear about this match, merely doubts, although I am sure people can make a case that they are on in the same, wrong as they’d be.
I know that everybody thinks you’re going to lose, and Christian too, now that I’ve comprehensively proven myself suddenly I’m flavour of the month and whilst the odds are stacked against me in the minds of the Board of Directors everyone else seems to believe I am going to walk it this week. Don’t worry, I’m not that gullible, it is nice that finally my exploits are being praised but this is my toughest test yet and there is absolutely no guarantee I will be leaving champion hell I might not even lose and still have to kiss goodbye to my belt.
So let’s forget all the hype from outside sources, because that will not guarantee me a victory at all. You have everything it takes to wrestle my belt from me and I know that you’re looking to redeem yourself and show everybody that you can beat the brightest prospect in this company and I don’t blame you.
Bring all that fire burning deep down inside you Alex, rise up from the flames like your nickname demands and give me everything you’ve got because it will be a battle on Sunday, but no matter what it is just the start of the war.
Leonard Fox, prepare for the beginning of the end, you’re on the road to getting what is coming to you and it won’t be a minute too soon.
Viva La Révolution.