Post by Will Washington on Jan 26, 2013 23:31:17 GMT -6
{Our scene opens backstage at an NCW event this week. We find ourselves in the hallway, following along behind Will Washington as he makes his way through the building, dressed in a nice, grey suit. Washington stops at a door with Kelly Fox's name on it, and knocks.}
Kelly Fox: "Come in."
{Will opens the door and steps into the room. Sure enough, Kelly is sitting in the room, looking over a stack of paperwork. Our hero stands there for a few seconds, and Kelly quickly motions for him to sit down in the chair facing the desk. He does so, and she pushes the paperwork to the side for the moment.}
Kelly Fox: "What can I do for you, Will?"
{Washington clears his throat.}
Will Washington: "Well, Kelly. It's less about what you can do for me, and more about what you can do for the NCW fans."
Kelly Fox: "Meaning?"
Will Washington: "You're making a big mistake, and everyone is going to suffer for it."
Kelly Fox: "Okay. Can we leave the cryptic talk at the door? I'm a little busy, here."
Will Washington: "Do I have to spell it out for you? Doc. You're letting him hang around backstage, and he's ruining everything. The new guys are being corrupted... the established guys have to worry about him OD'ing.... the janitors are always unclogging toilets that have plastic baggies flushed down them..."
Kelly Fox: "Oh come on."
Will Washington: "Well maybe not that last thing, but the others are true! The guy is a nuisance. You need to get rid of him before something bad happens."
Kelly Fox: "Will. I know you don't like Doc, but what is he really hurting? As far as I can tell, he's been doing good things so far. Honestly, I hope he stays around for a long time."
Will Washington: "You're kidding me, right?"
Kelly Fox: "I don't kid during my office hours."
Will Washington: "What does he have to offer us anymore? He's washed up. A never-was."
Kelly Fox: "He's good for business."
Will Washington: "HOW?! How in the world is having that junkie around good for anybody?"
{Kelly glares at Will, and the NCW wrestler knows not to push his luck with his boss and friend.}
Kelly Fox: "He's not a junkie. He's a redemption story. Fans love stories like that. He's like our very own version of Josh Hamilton."
Will Washington: "You're willing to risk the well-being of anyone he works with for the potential 'heart-warming' story that could go along with it? Best case scenario we get some good press. Worst case? I don't even want to think about it."
Kelly Fox: "Don't you think you're being overly dramatic?"
Will Washington: "If caring about the future of my fellow wrestlers is dramatic, then I guess I'm a teenage girl."
Kelly Fox: ".... How am I supposed to respond to that?"
Will Washington: "By admitting that I'm right and banning Doc from all NCW venues and shows."
Kelly Fox: "Yeah. No. I'm not going to do that and you're just going to have to accept it."
Will Washington: "I think you're being unreasonable here."
Kelly Fox: "Will.... You'd say we're friends, right?"
Will Washington: "I'd say so. I did save the life of your unborn child once."
Kelly Fox: "And I'm forever grateful for it... but you have to stop questioning me and let me do my job. I know what's best for NCW. You don't. You're a great wrestler, no doubt, but I'm in charge. So either you can accept my decision, or you can get the hell out of my office. I'm fine either way."
{Will stands up, offended.}
Will Washington: "Well then. I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
{Kelly grabs her papers and shuffles through them, not looking up.}
Kelly Fox: "Yeah. You do that. Have a nice day."
{Will opens the door and heads out. Suddenly, the door swings back open and Washington looks into the room.}
Will Washington: "Kelly. While I'm here... any chance I can finally get a title shot soon?"
{Without looking up, Kelly laughs.}
Kelly Fox: "Haha. Sure."
{Again offended, Will lets the door shut again. He stands against it and fumes with anger.}
Will Washington: "This is ridiculous!"
{Will stands there for a moment, gathering his composure. He straightens his tie and turns, heading down the hallway as we fade to black.}
________________________________________________________________________________
"I couldn't have booked this more perfectly if I were in charge of NCW, myself. For weeks and weeks I've been talking about how I deserve better than what they're giving me. I've said that I need the opportunity to get in that ring and prove that I'm better than anyone you want to snub me for, and this week is the perfect time to do just that. Mike Laszlo and Steve Awesome...."
"... Am I dreaming?"
"Somebody FINALLY listened to my pleas and gave me something to actually care about. While cracking the faces of guys like Curtis Kanyon, Stephen Kingsley, and Captain Howdy may be fun, it's far from fufilling. It's like beating your nieces and nephews at Scrabble when you're twenty-five and they're eight... Where's the fun in that? You just know you're going to deal with a bunch of crying and whining when it's all done, so what's the point? You give me Captain Howdy, and I give you your standard, everyday beatdown. In the end though, there's no substance... no reprecussions... nothing."
"... You can imagine the smile that came over my face when I saw the cards for this week."
"Steve Awesome should know by now exactly how I feel about him. I respect his accomplishments, but for the most part, I can't respect the man. Inside this ring, he's a warrior. Steve's done things that I couldn't even begin to question right now. Big-time matches, memorable personality, and a title history that goes on for days. You probably have more championship wins in your life than Mike Laszlo has matches. For your average, every day wrestling fan, Steve Awesome is just about as legendary as it gets. I mean... When I came in and was setting the world on fire, you gave me my first loss in the Road to the Gold final. You put me in my place, and stopped my momentum in it's tracks."
"Yet, when I look into your eyes, Steve.... I can see the real man underneath. A man who masks his true self with a bunch of false bravado and bragadocios claims. Behind those signature sunglasses you wear, lies nothing more than a boy begging to be loved... begging for approval. The oblivious fans may not realize it, but those of us that know you, know that what I'm saying is true."
"You've done it all and had it all in NCW, and yet, it's never good enough for you. Steve Awesome was one of the biggest names in the business, and you still took it upon yourself to sellout even further a few years ago, simply so you could call yourself 'The Face of the Franchise'. You so desperately wanted that last bit of validation, that you were willing to do whatever it took to have it. It didn't matter that so many of us already saw it that way... you couldn't stand not having it made official. So you sold your soul to the devil."
"... Well what about me, Steve? How can I make a deal with the devil when I have nothing to give?"
"Now you're back for your big nostalgia run. Why? You've got nothing more to prove, and yet, you risk it all to step into that ring one more time, all because you missed being loved. See... nobody cares about an aging pretty boy, do they? The longer you stay away from New Championship Wrestling, the more people stop talking about you... the more people start mentioning other names as the 'Face of the Franchise'... and that's killing you. You can't stand to have anyone else get any kind of spotlight in this business, so you came back to try and cast that famous shadow back on us all. God forbid anybody else got some airtime around here! But you know what, Steve? Welcome back."
"I tried to be like you in the past. Not overcompensating, wannabe movie star you... but a larger than life personality. I played to the fans... I was shuckin' and jivin' for management to try and be like you. I played the role, just like you, to try and get my name out there as best I could... and I hated myself everyday for it. So it brings me some solace to know that what you do has to have a similar effect on your subconcious. Much like how having anyone take your spot eats at you, I know that what you have to do to keep it, does just the same damage. You're killing yourself from both directions... like a gun in each hand."
".... What a sad existence that must be."
"You live in fear that one day we'll all wake up and see you for what you truly are, and unfortunately, that day has come. Those fans may not see it, but god knows the truth is out there. You're a broken man, Steve. You sat and watched while your legacy slowly diluded in front of you, and you're back to fix it. The little boy begging for adoration is back to prove that he still matters. And heck, you may still hang in the ring, and the crowd will still go wild for you. But at the end of the day, you're going to realize that you're not half the man that I am."
"Speaking of half-men... Mike Laszlo. It's funny how a title shot can go to a man's head, isn't it? Just a few months ago I was pinning you one... two... three in the middle of the ring with no trouble, and now you're running around here like you're the second coming of Steve Awesome. From a guy who couldn't seem to shake the stigma of being just an X Champion, to the man who can single-handedly beat Zeus and Jupiter at the same time! What a turnaround!"
"... or... you know.... not."
"Tell me what's changed in the last few months, Mike. You're a better wrestler now? You're more entertaining now? I should be scared of you now?"
"Stop. I'm going to start laughing."
"What did you do to earn these title shots you get? Seriously. You're a big, strong guy, but other than that, you're remarkably unremarkable in every way. What makes you more deserving of a title shot than say, Nathan Webb? Or Seth Evans? Or Leon Wesker? What do you have to offer that those guys don't?"
"You were at the right place at the right time."
"It's as simple as that. They needed a challenger, and you fit the bill. You're just big enough for it to look impressive when Verona undoubtedly beats you, but not big enough that it'll make you look weak. Win-win situation for all those involved. Roberto gets a 'credible' win, and you look 'credible' for having wrestled the champion. And everybody goes home happy!"
"Again, there's no fault in you taking advantage of an opportunity... and even a swelled head and growing ego are par for the course when it comes to title shots. Congratulations on all you success."
"... That sad, short-lived success."
"You can lie to yourself and say that you deserve that title shot more than I do, but after this weekend, there will be no questioning it. You head into the ring this weekend with a man who wants nothing more than to be where you are right now. I'm better than you, Mike. I know it, you know it, Steve knows it, and everyone who watches NCW every week, knows it. The fact that I'm passed over yet again so we can push the latest flavor of the month makes me sick. They throw you into the fire, knowing you've got no way of making it out alive, but hoping for the best... hoping you exceed expectations, overcome your defiencies, and become the next big star. All so that we can do the same damn thing over again next month with some other hack. It's a neverending cycle of mediocrity."
"Like a depressing merry-go-round."
"But here's the thing, Laszlo. It doesn't matter if you win at Metamorphosis or not. It doesn't matter if Roberto Verona caves your skull in and humbles you like you so desperately deserve to be. The fact of the matter is that sooner or later, I'm getting MY shot. You, Verona, and everyone that comes after you is just a body to keep that title warm until it finally comes home where it deserves to be. When you step into that ring at Meta and prepare to prove to the world that you belong with the big boys in NCW, you're only going to prove me right. You're going to prove that you don't belong anywhere near that World Heavyweight Championship."
"So while you're focused on signing the contract for your match at the Pay-Per-View, I'm focused on doing exactly what I say I'm going to do. Embarrass you, defeat you, and show NCW that their next big thing is nothing more than a fraud."
"And you? You're on the fast track back down the ladder."
".... and I will ascend."
"Collision is an awakening of sorts for me. I get the chance to wrestle NCW's past and 'future' at the exact same time. All of the people out there that still don't believe I have what it takes will rise up and take notice. Whether it's Laszlo or Awesome that ends up catching the wrong end of my boot, it matters not. Either way, I continue to prove the point that I've been saying for years.... that I'm the best this company has to offer, and there's nobody that can tell me otherwise."
"Mike Laszlo plans on winning the World Championship in a few weeks. Steve Awesome plans on reigniting his fire. Well I'm here to tell you that on Sunday..."
"... things don't go according to plan."
Kelly Fox: "Come in."
{Will opens the door and steps into the room. Sure enough, Kelly is sitting in the room, looking over a stack of paperwork. Our hero stands there for a few seconds, and Kelly quickly motions for him to sit down in the chair facing the desk. He does so, and she pushes the paperwork to the side for the moment.}
Kelly Fox: "What can I do for you, Will?"
{Washington clears his throat.}
Will Washington: "Well, Kelly. It's less about what you can do for me, and more about what you can do for the NCW fans."
Kelly Fox: "Meaning?"
Will Washington: "You're making a big mistake, and everyone is going to suffer for it."
Kelly Fox: "Okay. Can we leave the cryptic talk at the door? I'm a little busy, here."
Will Washington: "Do I have to spell it out for you? Doc. You're letting him hang around backstage, and he's ruining everything. The new guys are being corrupted... the established guys have to worry about him OD'ing.... the janitors are always unclogging toilets that have plastic baggies flushed down them..."
Kelly Fox: "Oh come on."
Will Washington: "Well maybe not that last thing, but the others are true! The guy is a nuisance. You need to get rid of him before something bad happens."
Kelly Fox: "Will. I know you don't like Doc, but what is he really hurting? As far as I can tell, he's been doing good things so far. Honestly, I hope he stays around for a long time."
Will Washington: "You're kidding me, right?"
Kelly Fox: "I don't kid during my office hours."
Will Washington: "What does he have to offer us anymore? He's washed up. A never-was."
Kelly Fox: "He's good for business."
Will Washington: "HOW?! How in the world is having that junkie around good for anybody?"
{Kelly glares at Will, and the NCW wrestler knows not to push his luck with his boss and friend.}
Kelly Fox: "He's not a junkie. He's a redemption story. Fans love stories like that. He's like our very own version of Josh Hamilton."
Will Washington: "You're willing to risk the well-being of anyone he works with for the potential 'heart-warming' story that could go along with it? Best case scenario we get some good press. Worst case? I don't even want to think about it."
Kelly Fox: "Don't you think you're being overly dramatic?"
Will Washington: "If caring about the future of my fellow wrestlers is dramatic, then I guess I'm a teenage girl."
Kelly Fox: ".... How am I supposed to respond to that?"
Will Washington: "By admitting that I'm right and banning Doc from all NCW venues and shows."
Kelly Fox: "Yeah. No. I'm not going to do that and you're just going to have to accept it."
Will Washington: "I think you're being unreasonable here."
Kelly Fox: "Will.... You'd say we're friends, right?"
Will Washington: "I'd say so. I did save the life of your unborn child once."
Kelly Fox: "And I'm forever grateful for it... but you have to stop questioning me and let me do my job. I know what's best for NCW. You don't. You're a great wrestler, no doubt, but I'm in charge. So either you can accept my decision, or you can get the hell out of my office. I'm fine either way."
{Will stands up, offended.}
Will Washington: "Well then. I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
{Kelly grabs her papers and shuffles through them, not looking up.}
Kelly Fox: "Yeah. You do that. Have a nice day."
{Will opens the door and heads out. Suddenly, the door swings back open and Washington looks into the room.}
Will Washington: "Kelly. While I'm here... any chance I can finally get a title shot soon?"
{Without looking up, Kelly laughs.}
Kelly Fox: "Haha. Sure."
{Again offended, Will lets the door shut again. He stands against it and fumes with anger.}
Will Washington: "This is ridiculous!"
{Will stands there for a moment, gathering his composure. He straightens his tie and turns, heading down the hallway as we fade to black.}
________________________________________________________________________________
"I couldn't have booked this more perfectly if I were in charge of NCW, myself. For weeks and weeks I've been talking about how I deserve better than what they're giving me. I've said that I need the opportunity to get in that ring and prove that I'm better than anyone you want to snub me for, and this week is the perfect time to do just that. Mike Laszlo and Steve Awesome...."
"... Am I dreaming?"
"Somebody FINALLY listened to my pleas and gave me something to actually care about. While cracking the faces of guys like Curtis Kanyon, Stephen Kingsley, and Captain Howdy may be fun, it's far from fufilling. It's like beating your nieces and nephews at Scrabble when you're twenty-five and they're eight... Where's the fun in that? You just know you're going to deal with a bunch of crying and whining when it's all done, so what's the point? You give me Captain Howdy, and I give you your standard, everyday beatdown. In the end though, there's no substance... no reprecussions... nothing."
"... You can imagine the smile that came over my face when I saw the cards for this week."
"Steve Awesome should know by now exactly how I feel about him. I respect his accomplishments, but for the most part, I can't respect the man. Inside this ring, he's a warrior. Steve's done things that I couldn't even begin to question right now. Big-time matches, memorable personality, and a title history that goes on for days. You probably have more championship wins in your life than Mike Laszlo has matches. For your average, every day wrestling fan, Steve Awesome is just about as legendary as it gets. I mean... When I came in and was setting the world on fire, you gave me my first loss in the Road to the Gold final. You put me in my place, and stopped my momentum in it's tracks."
"Yet, when I look into your eyes, Steve.... I can see the real man underneath. A man who masks his true self with a bunch of false bravado and bragadocios claims. Behind those signature sunglasses you wear, lies nothing more than a boy begging to be loved... begging for approval. The oblivious fans may not realize it, but those of us that know you, know that what I'm saying is true."
"You've done it all and had it all in NCW, and yet, it's never good enough for you. Steve Awesome was one of the biggest names in the business, and you still took it upon yourself to sellout even further a few years ago, simply so you could call yourself 'The Face of the Franchise'. You so desperately wanted that last bit of validation, that you were willing to do whatever it took to have it. It didn't matter that so many of us already saw it that way... you couldn't stand not having it made official. So you sold your soul to the devil."
"... Well what about me, Steve? How can I make a deal with the devil when I have nothing to give?"
"Now you're back for your big nostalgia run. Why? You've got nothing more to prove, and yet, you risk it all to step into that ring one more time, all because you missed being loved. See... nobody cares about an aging pretty boy, do they? The longer you stay away from New Championship Wrestling, the more people stop talking about you... the more people start mentioning other names as the 'Face of the Franchise'... and that's killing you. You can't stand to have anyone else get any kind of spotlight in this business, so you came back to try and cast that famous shadow back on us all. God forbid anybody else got some airtime around here! But you know what, Steve? Welcome back."
"I tried to be like you in the past. Not overcompensating, wannabe movie star you... but a larger than life personality. I played to the fans... I was shuckin' and jivin' for management to try and be like you. I played the role, just like you, to try and get my name out there as best I could... and I hated myself everyday for it. So it brings me some solace to know that what you do has to have a similar effect on your subconcious. Much like how having anyone take your spot eats at you, I know that what you have to do to keep it, does just the same damage. You're killing yourself from both directions... like a gun in each hand."
".... What a sad existence that must be."
"You live in fear that one day we'll all wake up and see you for what you truly are, and unfortunately, that day has come. Those fans may not see it, but god knows the truth is out there. You're a broken man, Steve. You sat and watched while your legacy slowly diluded in front of you, and you're back to fix it. The little boy begging for adoration is back to prove that he still matters. And heck, you may still hang in the ring, and the crowd will still go wild for you. But at the end of the day, you're going to realize that you're not half the man that I am."
"Speaking of half-men... Mike Laszlo. It's funny how a title shot can go to a man's head, isn't it? Just a few months ago I was pinning you one... two... three in the middle of the ring with no trouble, and now you're running around here like you're the second coming of Steve Awesome. From a guy who couldn't seem to shake the stigma of being just an X Champion, to the man who can single-handedly beat Zeus and Jupiter at the same time! What a turnaround!"
"... or... you know.... not."
"Tell me what's changed in the last few months, Mike. You're a better wrestler now? You're more entertaining now? I should be scared of you now?"
"Stop. I'm going to start laughing."
"What did you do to earn these title shots you get? Seriously. You're a big, strong guy, but other than that, you're remarkably unremarkable in every way. What makes you more deserving of a title shot than say, Nathan Webb? Or Seth Evans? Or Leon Wesker? What do you have to offer that those guys don't?"
"You were at the right place at the right time."
"It's as simple as that. They needed a challenger, and you fit the bill. You're just big enough for it to look impressive when Verona undoubtedly beats you, but not big enough that it'll make you look weak. Win-win situation for all those involved. Roberto gets a 'credible' win, and you look 'credible' for having wrestled the champion. And everybody goes home happy!"
"Again, there's no fault in you taking advantage of an opportunity... and even a swelled head and growing ego are par for the course when it comes to title shots. Congratulations on all you success."
"... That sad, short-lived success."
"You can lie to yourself and say that you deserve that title shot more than I do, but after this weekend, there will be no questioning it. You head into the ring this weekend with a man who wants nothing more than to be where you are right now. I'm better than you, Mike. I know it, you know it, Steve knows it, and everyone who watches NCW every week, knows it. The fact that I'm passed over yet again so we can push the latest flavor of the month makes me sick. They throw you into the fire, knowing you've got no way of making it out alive, but hoping for the best... hoping you exceed expectations, overcome your defiencies, and become the next big star. All so that we can do the same damn thing over again next month with some other hack. It's a neverending cycle of mediocrity."
"Like a depressing merry-go-round."
"But here's the thing, Laszlo. It doesn't matter if you win at Metamorphosis or not. It doesn't matter if Roberto Verona caves your skull in and humbles you like you so desperately deserve to be. The fact of the matter is that sooner or later, I'm getting MY shot. You, Verona, and everyone that comes after you is just a body to keep that title warm until it finally comes home where it deserves to be. When you step into that ring at Meta and prepare to prove to the world that you belong with the big boys in NCW, you're only going to prove me right. You're going to prove that you don't belong anywhere near that World Heavyweight Championship."
"So while you're focused on signing the contract for your match at the Pay-Per-View, I'm focused on doing exactly what I say I'm going to do. Embarrass you, defeat you, and show NCW that their next big thing is nothing more than a fraud."
"And you? You're on the fast track back down the ladder."
".... and I will ascend."
"Collision is an awakening of sorts for me. I get the chance to wrestle NCW's past and 'future' at the exact same time. All of the people out there that still don't believe I have what it takes will rise up and take notice. Whether it's Laszlo or Awesome that ends up catching the wrong end of my boot, it matters not. Either way, I continue to prove the point that I've been saying for years.... that I'm the best this company has to offer, and there's nobody that can tell me otherwise."
"Mike Laszlo plans on winning the World Championship in a few weeks. Steve Awesome plans on reigniting his fire. Well I'm here to tell you that on Sunday..."
"... things don't go according to plan."