Post by Nathan Webb on Apr 6, 2012 20:40:50 GMT -6
Intro -
The process has been years to reach this point. At one time I was a lost man; A man who had fulfilled ten years of service to the Marine Corps, but a man who knew that he didn’t want to devote 20-30 years to it. Granted I loved the Marine Corps for what it has given me, and still do, but I knew that life wasn’t for me in the long run. Call it one of those things.
Yes I was lost but through a series of fortunate “accidents” I was able to find wrestling, or rather wrestling found me. Since the onset of my wrestling career I have been through many different federations and in many different battles. I have been at war with people and I have even fought against myself in an almost losing battle; one where I would self-exile to Africa for a couple years while I got my mind right.
These years have been full of blood sweat and tears. Full of triumph and tragedy. Full of self-realization and growth. I have of course made enemies but have made friends that will last a lifetime.
It has taken me years to get to where I am at now, but now I can honestly say I am going into Sunday into the biggest match of my career. I am going into the Coliseum against five very hungry and capable opponents. This is my biggest battle, and biggest test to endure the pain of that hellacious structure, and outwit and outlast my opponents where I would gain the honor of challenging for the NCW World Championship come May.
Yes my friends I have reached a peak, but I guarantee it is not the highest point of my career. Despite reaching this point I can see more highs in my future.
Collision Epilogue -
I guess I wasn’t surprised to see the match ended the way it did on Sunday, in one giant brawl. What else was to be expected? Six individuals, with their own distinct personalities and egos each man had no particular alliance with anyone, even their own partners. Each man had one thing and one thing on their mind…their individual desire to win that Coliseum match this coming Sunday, April 8th.
Was what happened at Collision predictable? Probably.
Was it also inevitable? Of Course.
There was Jake Conway and I in that very ring. A brawl was bound to ensue. Call it one of those things but Jake Conway and me were two opposite poles on a magnet, when we get near each other there usually will be a fight.
So the predictable happened and in the end nothing was accomplished and nothing was decided. In the end all that remained were six men that had to be broken up by security.
I now found myself with Rose wearing her cast as we walked out of our dressing area and toward the parking lot. We were both silent as we walked side by side, suddenly I found myself chuckling uncontrollably.
“What’s so funny Mr. Nate?” Asked Rose giving me a look that said I was weirding her out with my bit out laughter out of the blue .
I shook my head as I regained my bearing. “Nothing dear. Just laughing what happened tonight.”
“Okay, what makes that so funny Mr. Nate?” Rose asked still not satisfied.
“Men in general. We are a being loaded with testosterone at times. What you saw in there wasn’t a match. It was never intended to be a match. It was just a spectacle to see who was the person that could beat their chest the hardest; a contest to see who was the alpha male, out of the six of us, going in the Coliseum match.”
“So who was the alpha male tonight?”
“No one did.”
Rose still gave me a look that said she was scratching her head on the inside.
“Basically there was all that testosterone, and everyone had something to prove and basically like every situation like that before tonight it broke down. That is what I was laughing at.”
“Oh, okay Mr. Nate.” Rose said still looking somewhat confused, but in the end I think she would need to figure it out on her own otherwise I think I was having an inside joke with myself.
Suddenly I saw two figures come toward us in the hallway. Those figures belonged to the C.E.O. Kelly Knite and her bodyguard Curtis Kanyon. As I approached them both I heard Kelly Knite’s voice cut through the silence in the hallway.
“Nathan Webb, just the man I wanted to see.”
Both of us signaling our respective wards to stay behind us, Kelly and I continued to walk toward each other until we met.
“Good Evening, Mrs. Knite.” I said being polite.
“Good Evening, Mr. Webb.” Kelly said returning my gesture. “So how are you feeling, after what just happened?”
“Feeling good,” I replied truthfully, “baring anything serious I am ready for Sovereign.”
“Good, Good…” Kelly said rubbing her chin in her hand. After a few more moments Kelly got to the heart of what she wanted to talk about. “So what do you think, about what else happened tonight?”
“I am not following you.”
Kelly realizing her mistake clarified it for me. “I mean about what happened with me and Zelda?”
“I don’t know what do you think?” I said not trying to be rude but push onto her that she was C.E.O. and what I thought shouldn’t really matter as much as her own thoughts on subjects like this.
Kelly realizing my position chuckled before re-phrasing her words. “Do you think I made the right decision?”
I bit my lip holding back my immediate thought which was to ask, Do you?” While I would felt it would help drive my point I knew it was not the most appropriate thing to say. So I went with another route. “Obviously you felt it was the best idea for YOUR company…so I guess you did make the right decision.”
Kelly snorted I guess realizing this line of questioning was futile for getting an answer from so she went with a different approach. “So…let me ask you this…would you follow Zelda Knite if she was in charge?”
Now it was my turn to be on my heels. I honestly had to think about it before I answered. “In a sense I would follow her because she is my boss, but there would also be a part of me that wouldn’t think of her as such.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that when she made you that offer she played her hand. She already said that if she was in charge she would put into place her own agenda. The agenda you didn’t do if terms of nepotism and favoritism. Something this company doesn’t need.”
“Probably…either way I don’t think this is the last time we will hear from Zelda on this…”
“Nope.” I said shaking my head.
“Either way…the main thing I wanted to talk to you about is the Coliseum this Sunday.”
“How so?”
“Well I am sure you may already know this but I took a chance on you by putting you in this match. There were plenty of other deserving individuals in the company, but I chose you. I thought you were ready, deserving and not going to take this lightly. Either way…” Kelly said poking her finger into my chest. “I stuck my neck out for you, and while I don’t have a stock in whether you win or not but either way DO NOT make me look bad.”
I couldn’t help but laugh hearing this ultimatum from my boss. “Don’t worry ma’am I have no intention of doing such a thing.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way.” Kelly said patting me on the back before heading away with Curtis on her heels.
Rose seeing her opening came back to my side, looking behind her to see that Kelly Knite was out of our frame of view and out of hearing distance she spoke up. “Wow Mr. Nate, Mrs. Kelly is putting a lot of pressure on you.”
I put my hand on Rose’s shoulder as we continued our walk to the parking lot. “Well, one thing you will learn about this business is that pressure is always on. You can either rise to the occasion, or fade into oblivion. I just got to rise to this challenge.”
The Cold Cut –
Ready to Live Forever...
(The Cold Cut begins like it always does. The video is in black and white and has a grainy quality. Nathan is standing in the center of the camera frame wearing his usual attire; a pair of baggy black jeans with a wallet chain attached, a black t-shirt and a black leather jacket. The beginning of the video shows Nathan standing there smoking his cigarette, taking a couple of drags before speaking into the camera.)
Greetings ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the latest installment of my Cold Cut. But before I get into the usual obligations of speaking on the biggest match I have EVER been in let me start off by giving a brief history lesson to put things into perspective in terms of my mindset going into Sunday.
(Nathan takes a drag of his cigarette before continuing on.)
During World War I, in June of 1918, Americans combined with forces from France and Britain found themselves facing an overwhelming German Army looking to overtake France. In the French countryside of Bellau Wood, one of the fiercest battles was about to take place. A battle that would become a part of the mythos that would be instilled in every Marine since then.
During that battle despite being outmanned and outgunned the Marines with that Allied forced charged German entrenchments containing superior German machineguns. Many Marines were lost during this faithful battle but due to the honor, courage and commitment the Marines displayed, the very attributes that make up the warrior ethos of all Marines, the Germans were defeated and forced to retreat.
As a side note a famous quote from that battle would come from a two time Medal of Honor winner in, at the time GySgt Dan Daly. As he prompted his Marines forward he uttered the words that would live on forever…”Come On you Sons of Bitches do you want to live forever.” In case you were wondering that almost exact phrase was used in the movie Starship Troopers.
Of course another part of the Marine Legacy was born from this battle. The legend has it that due to the viciousness and ferocity that the Marines fought with during this battle, the Germans nicknamed these “troops” as Teufel Hunden of “Hounds from Hell” which turned into Devil Dog. While this legend has been disputed over the years the name has stuck, and each Marine has borne the name “Devil Dog” with pride as to how we fight our enemies.
(Nathan takes another drag from his cigarette before continuing on.)
Now I am not trying to totally equivocate a literal life or death situation with my upcoming match or try and win brownie points with the fans from me mentioning something Marine to you all. I do though feel there is an apt analogy in all of this.
Just like the Marine Corps made its name in the twentieth century with this one battle, I feel…no I KNOW I will make my name in the Coliseum match. I will prove to the world that I have finally arrived.
Am I also relating my five other opponents to the Germans? Hell No. What I am saying is that I am going into this match outmanned and outgunned. I am fighting not only two men in Spike Kane and Falcon who are hall of famers but three other guys in Will Washington, Ricky Johnson, and even Jake Conway who will be in the hall of fame one of these days. The odds are definitely against me in this one.
You know what though while some would hate being called an underdog or a dark horse like I have been called, I on the other hand relish the notion of being the one that no one would think to win this match. I have no problem with being that guy because it keeps me hungry. It tells me that I am the one with everything to prove. It tells me that I need to step up my game if I want to get more main events like this one.
(Nathan takes another drag before continuing on.)
Believe it or not I have nothing but respect for my opponents in a professional capacity, even for Jake Conway despite him being a giant douche personally…but what I have in respect for these men I match in a competitive fire that cannot be extinguished. You gentlemen may feel that I am not ready for this. You may feel that I will only choke under the pressure. You may play this game of the person that doesn’t belong, but it only motivates me. It will only give fuel to this fire and in the end I will prove that I am the next great thing here in NCW. I will prove that I am ready to take on the mantle of legend that this potential told you I was going to be. I will prove that despite all the ups and downs I have endured I have moved past the past and ready to move full force into the future.
In the end…I will show you sons of bitches that I AM ready to live FOREVER.
The process has been years to reach this point. At one time I was a lost man; A man who had fulfilled ten years of service to the Marine Corps, but a man who knew that he didn’t want to devote 20-30 years to it. Granted I loved the Marine Corps for what it has given me, and still do, but I knew that life wasn’t for me in the long run. Call it one of those things.
Yes I was lost but through a series of fortunate “accidents” I was able to find wrestling, or rather wrestling found me. Since the onset of my wrestling career I have been through many different federations and in many different battles. I have been at war with people and I have even fought against myself in an almost losing battle; one where I would self-exile to Africa for a couple years while I got my mind right.
These years have been full of blood sweat and tears. Full of triumph and tragedy. Full of self-realization and growth. I have of course made enemies but have made friends that will last a lifetime.
It has taken me years to get to where I am at now, but now I can honestly say I am going into Sunday into the biggest match of my career. I am going into the Coliseum against five very hungry and capable opponents. This is my biggest battle, and biggest test to endure the pain of that hellacious structure, and outwit and outlast my opponents where I would gain the honor of challenging for the NCW World Championship come May.
Yes my friends I have reached a peak, but I guarantee it is not the highest point of my career. Despite reaching this point I can see more highs in my future.
Collision Epilogue -
I guess I wasn’t surprised to see the match ended the way it did on Sunday, in one giant brawl. What else was to be expected? Six individuals, with their own distinct personalities and egos each man had no particular alliance with anyone, even their own partners. Each man had one thing and one thing on their mind…their individual desire to win that Coliseum match this coming Sunday, April 8th.
Was what happened at Collision predictable? Probably.
Was it also inevitable? Of Course.
There was Jake Conway and I in that very ring. A brawl was bound to ensue. Call it one of those things but Jake Conway and me were two opposite poles on a magnet, when we get near each other there usually will be a fight.
So the predictable happened and in the end nothing was accomplished and nothing was decided. In the end all that remained were six men that had to be broken up by security.
I now found myself with Rose wearing her cast as we walked out of our dressing area and toward the parking lot. We were both silent as we walked side by side, suddenly I found myself chuckling uncontrollably.
“What’s so funny Mr. Nate?” Asked Rose giving me a look that said I was weirding her out with my bit out laughter out of the blue .
I shook my head as I regained my bearing. “Nothing dear. Just laughing what happened tonight.”
“Okay, what makes that so funny Mr. Nate?” Rose asked still not satisfied.
“Men in general. We are a being loaded with testosterone at times. What you saw in there wasn’t a match. It was never intended to be a match. It was just a spectacle to see who was the person that could beat their chest the hardest; a contest to see who was the alpha male, out of the six of us, going in the Coliseum match.”
“So who was the alpha male tonight?”
“No one did.”
Rose still gave me a look that said she was scratching her head on the inside.
“Basically there was all that testosterone, and everyone had something to prove and basically like every situation like that before tonight it broke down. That is what I was laughing at.”
“Oh, okay Mr. Nate.” Rose said still looking somewhat confused, but in the end I think she would need to figure it out on her own otherwise I think I was having an inside joke with myself.
Suddenly I saw two figures come toward us in the hallway. Those figures belonged to the C.E.O. Kelly Knite and her bodyguard Curtis Kanyon. As I approached them both I heard Kelly Knite’s voice cut through the silence in the hallway.
“Nathan Webb, just the man I wanted to see.”
Both of us signaling our respective wards to stay behind us, Kelly and I continued to walk toward each other until we met.
“Good Evening, Mrs. Knite.” I said being polite.
“Good Evening, Mr. Webb.” Kelly said returning my gesture. “So how are you feeling, after what just happened?”
“Feeling good,” I replied truthfully, “baring anything serious I am ready for Sovereign.”
“Good, Good…” Kelly said rubbing her chin in her hand. After a few more moments Kelly got to the heart of what she wanted to talk about. “So what do you think, about what else happened tonight?”
“I am not following you.”
Kelly realizing her mistake clarified it for me. “I mean about what happened with me and Zelda?”
“I don’t know what do you think?” I said not trying to be rude but push onto her that she was C.E.O. and what I thought shouldn’t really matter as much as her own thoughts on subjects like this.
Kelly realizing my position chuckled before re-phrasing her words. “Do you think I made the right decision?”
I bit my lip holding back my immediate thought which was to ask, Do you?” While I would felt it would help drive my point I knew it was not the most appropriate thing to say. So I went with another route. “Obviously you felt it was the best idea for YOUR company…so I guess you did make the right decision.”
Kelly snorted I guess realizing this line of questioning was futile for getting an answer from so she went with a different approach. “So…let me ask you this…would you follow Zelda Knite if she was in charge?”
Now it was my turn to be on my heels. I honestly had to think about it before I answered. “In a sense I would follow her because she is my boss, but there would also be a part of me that wouldn’t think of her as such.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that when she made you that offer she played her hand. She already said that if she was in charge she would put into place her own agenda. The agenda you didn’t do if terms of nepotism and favoritism. Something this company doesn’t need.”
“Probably…either way I don’t think this is the last time we will hear from Zelda on this…”
“Nope.” I said shaking my head.
“Either way…the main thing I wanted to talk to you about is the Coliseum this Sunday.”
“How so?”
“Well I am sure you may already know this but I took a chance on you by putting you in this match. There were plenty of other deserving individuals in the company, but I chose you. I thought you were ready, deserving and not going to take this lightly. Either way…” Kelly said poking her finger into my chest. “I stuck my neck out for you, and while I don’t have a stock in whether you win or not but either way DO NOT make me look bad.”
I couldn’t help but laugh hearing this ultimatum from my boss. “Don’t worry ma’am I have no intention of doing such a thing.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way.” Kelly said patting me on the back before heading away with Curtis on her heels.
Rose seeing her opening came back to my side, looking behind her to see that Kelly Knite was out of our frame of view and out of hearing distance she spoke up. “Wow Mr. Nate, Mrs. Kelly is putting a lot of pressure on you.”
I put my hand on Rose’s shoulder as we continued our walk to the parking lot. “Well, one thing you will learn about this business is that pressure is always on. You can either rise to the occasion, or fade into oblivion. I just got to rise to this challenge.”
The Cold Cut –
Ready to Live Forever...
(The Cold Cut begins like it always does. The video is in black and white and has a grainy quality. Nathan is standing in the center of the camera frame wearing his usual attire; a pair of baggy black jeans with a wallet chain attached, a black t-shirt and a black leather jacket. The beginning of the video shows Nathan standing there smoking his cigarette, taking a couple of drags before speaking into the camera.)
Greetings ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the latest installment of my Cold Cut. But before I get into the usual obligations of speaking on the biggest match I have EVER been in let me start off by giving a brief history lesson to put things into perspective in terms of my mindset going into Sunday.
(Nathan takes a drag of his cigarette before continuing on.)
During World War I, in June of 1918, Americans combined with forces from France and Britain found themselves facing an overwhelming German Army looking to overtake France. In the French countryside of Bellau Wood, one of the fiercest battles was about to take place. A battle that would become a part of the mythos that would be instilled in every Marine since then.
During that battle despite being outmanned and outgunned the Marines with that Allied forced charged German entrenchments containing superior German machineguns. Many Marines were lost during this faithful battle but due to the honor, courage and commitment the Marines displayed, the very attributes that make up the warrior ethos of all Marines, the Germans were defeated and forced to retreat.
As a side note a famous quote from that battle would come from a two time Medal of Honor winner in, at the time GySgt Dan Daly. As he prompted his Marines forward he uttered the words that would live on forever…”Come On you Sons of Bitches do you want to live forever.” In case you were wondering that almost exact phrase was used in the movie Starship Troopers.
Of course another part of the Marine Legacy was born from this battle. The legend has it that due to the viciousness and ferocity that the Marines fought with during this battle, the Germans nicknamed these “troops” as Teufel Hunden of “Hounds from Hell” which turned into Devil Dog. While this legend has been disputed over the years the name has stuck, and each Marine has borne the name “Devil Dog” with pride as to how we fight our enemies.
(Nathan takes another drag from his cigarette before continuing on.)
Now I am not trying to totally equivocate a literal life or death situation with my upcoming match or try and win brownie points with the fans from me mentioning something Marine to you all. I do though feel there is an apt analogy in all of this.
Just like the Marine Corps made its name in the twentieth century with this one battle, I feel…no I KNOW I will make my name in the Coliseum match. I will prove to the world that I have finally arrived.
Am I also relating my five other opponents to the Germans? Hell No. What I am saying is that I am going into this match outmanned and outgunned. I am fighting not only two men in Spike Kane and Falcon who are hall of famers but three other guys in Will Washington, Ricky Johnson, and even Jake Conway who will be in the hall of fame one of these days. The odds are definitely against me in this one.
You know what though while some would hate being called an underdog or a dark horse like I have been called, I on the other hand relish the notion of being the one that no one would think to win this match. I have no problem with being that guy because it keeps me hungry. It tells me that I am the one with everything to prove. It tells me that I need to step up my game if I want to get more main events like this one.
(Nathan takes another drag before continuing on.)
Believe it or not I have nothing but respect for my opponents in a professional capacity, even for Jake Conway despite him being a giant douche personally…but what I have in respect for these men I match in a competitive fire that cannot be extinguished. You gentlemen may feel that I am not ready for this. You may feel that I will only choke under the pressure. You may play this game of the person that doesn’t belong, but it only motivates me. It will only give fuel to this fire and in the end I will prove that I am the next great thing here in NCW. I will prove that I am ready to take on the mantle of legend that this potential told you I was going to be. I will prove that despite all the ups and downs I have endured I have moved past the past and ready to move full force into the future.
In the end…I will show you sons of bitches that I AM ready to live FOREVER.
