Post by Mike Laszlo on Feb 2, 2013 14:04:28 GMT -6
You’re right. There’s not a soul on this planet who knows exactly what is going through the head of Roberto Verona, other than you yourself. However, and this is to use a bit of your own words against you, I truly believe that you have built up an imaginary wall of your own that doesn’t hide the truth from us, but from yourself.
Either that or you’re the most convoluted person I have ever listened to in my entire life.
You want me to admit to the world that Roberto Verona is the better man if I were to lose this Sunday. I’ll tell you what Roberto, I’ll do just that as I’ve done in the past…WHEN YOU BEAT ME. When you beat me at Road to the Gold, I said you were better, just as you did me the times that I beat you. You’ve said it, and I’ve said it, we are talented individuals and the things we’ve done and said to each other take nothing away from that fact. We’ve come to a stalemate around here and it’s time to put an end to it once and for all.
You used Lex Sense’s boot to your advantage as I said I would have and I’ve never once blamed you for doing so. I didn’t once say that you taking advantage was unfair. My beef was that you couldn’t beat me by yourself because you didn’t. By all means, I congratulate you to this date on doing anything to hold onto that belt because I would be the same way.
At Mind Games, you didn’t even win. I did. Three falls to two. You got the technicality, but I hold the victory. I don’t blame you for bragging that you kept the title because of disqualification. It’s yours…for now.
You see, you’re like a lot of people in the world and you like to misconstrue things. Our situation here isn’t a lot unlike “The Decision” in 2010 of LeBron James leaving for the Miami Heat. People aren’t mad at LeBron for leaving; he had every right as a free agent; just as people aren’t mad at you for taking advantage of your rights as champion. What they are mad about in each situation is the way in which each individual, LeBron James, and Roberto Verona, have gone about doing the deed.
LeBron James went on national TV and spurned his hometown, treating them as if they were nothing. He went to the Miami Heat to join Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade because, much like Roberto Verona, he couldn’t get the job done on his own. He wanted his championship, much like Roberto Verona, by any means necessary.
The two of you got what you wanted. The difference is, nobody can take away LeBron’s title…this Sunday Roberto…with no excuses…with no help…I’m taking yours.
Though I don’t plan on it for a single solitary second Roberto, if I lose this Sunday, I won’t grovel at your feet, kiss your boot, and beg for another opportunity. I will shake your hand and call you the better man in the center of that ring. If not on Sunday due to exhaustion or injury or whatever, then the next possible opportunity, it will happen. I hope you’re willing to do the same…when I win…not if.
The match this Sunday is of the upmost importance in the history of NCW. Two men who have done war for over three months’ time will do battle one last time inside the most fear inducing structure known to man.
There will be no outside interference.
There will be no outside force.
There will be no Lex Sense or Ray Gross.
The mind games will come to a halt and it will simply be two of the best that this company has to offer in the center of the ring doing what this company strives for its best to do…put on a show one more time.
This is my last shot at the World Title as long as it is around your waist. It is my third shot at this belt in the last three months. Just like my match against Xander, Roberto…the third time is and will be the charm.
====================
Title: Want Turns to Need (The Rescue)
Location: Louisiana Swampland
Time: 1:03 PM Local Time
By the time we had talked and packed the gear up for this rescue, then drove to the place where the rescue was to take place, it had been about an hour and a half. We took the drive into the swampier part of Louisiana. New Orleans is a ripe spot in the United States for dog fighting and really needed a group like Villalobos to come down and help with the crackdown on this brutal “sport” that was brutally harmful for animals. I personally think that anyone who decides to fight dogs should then be locked in a cage with that dog, just to see how they fair as it rips them apart. Dog fighting is stupid and that’s the bottom line.
Anyway, we pull up to a wooded area that surrounds a group of mobile homes. If you’ve heard the term trailer park trash, this was the pictorial definition. As we got out of the car, the group of Tia, Mariah, Tania, three parolees, and myself, surveyed the area and could tell rather quickly that this was a dog fighting holding area. As we crept into the backyard areas, we saw multiple metal steaks driven into the ground with attached chains where the dogs presumably were kept, just close enough so they could snip at each other on the chain…another tease. We continued on and all of a sudden we heard Mariah to my right as we sort of split off into small groups.
Mariah Harmony: Oh my God.
As I looked over I saw her hands over her face in horror at what she had seen. I walked over and looked down and to my shock, there was a chain that led to a collar around the neck of a skeleton in the shape of a dog. You don’t know until you see it, but it truly was a saddening sight. Me personally, it only made me angrier. How could someone do this to a dog? An animal meant to be a household pet? Sick bastards.
Mariah was in tears though she was trying hard to fight them back. I consoled her with a hug as she cried a bit on my shoulder.
Mike Laszlo: This is uncalled for. We have to find any and all dogs that we can find and get them the hell out of here.
Tia Torres: (Walking over toward us.) It might not be that simple. It is stealing.
Mike Laszlo: Take pictures of this whole area as we walk around. Any judge will see this and applaud us.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, snapping a picture of the skeleton for proof that this was a horrible situation. As we looked around some more, we separated a bit more around the area in groups of two when in the distance, back in the woods, we heard one of the parolees.
Parolee: MS. TIA! OVER HERE!
Everybody ran through the woods to where his voice had come from and as we got there we saw a little tan colored pit bull, extremely emaciated, happy as can be to see us as was evident by the wiggling of her back half of her body.
Tia Torres: We can’t just take her.
Mike Laszlo: The hell we can’t. She’s tied up in the woods away from any of these “homes” and I use that term loosely.
Mariah Harmony: He’s right mom.
She stood there with her hands on her hips, accessing the situation. Finally, rather quickly, she saw it my way.
Tia Torres: Alright, let’s do this.
She hooked the dog with a rope as I took a pair of bolt cutters and cut the worn, size too small, collar from the dog’s neck.
Mike Laszlo: There ya go girl.
The dog shook in fear as she had no clue what was happening. Slowly, Tia began walking toward the van with the crates, followed by two of the parolees to keep her safe, not knowing what dangers might be around the corner. As she took the dog back to the van, Tania and the remaining parolee headed in one direction and Mariah and I in another. Soon after, as Tania’s team disappeared into the woods, we heard what sounded like a riding lawn mower. At first we dismissed it, but quickly, it got louder and louder, and looking over my shoulder, I saw a thirty-something black man in black shorts, a white t-shirt, and a New Orleans Saints hat, riding his mower in our direction.
Mariah Harmony: Oh crap.
Mike Laszlo: Don’t worry. Stay close, and I’ll make sure you’re good.
Mariah Harmony: He could have a gun.
Mike Laszlo: True, we’ll just have to play it out.
As he got closer, he started yelling at us.
: (In his thick Bayou accent.) WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU DOIN!?
Mike Laszlo: (To Mariah.) Act like you can’t hear him. Just keep going.
As he got within a few feet of us, I turned my head and acknowledged him as he yelled again.
: I SAID…WHAT DA HELL YOU DOIN!?
The two of us stopped in our tracks and turned toward the man as Mariah took a step back as I told her to.
Mike Laszlo: WHAT!?
: I SAID WHAT YOU BE DOIN BOY!
Mike Laszlo: I CAN’T HEAR YOU! TURN THE TRACTOR OFF!
He did so and we could finally go back to talking instead of a screaming match.
: I said what you doin boy.
Mike Laszlo: First off, I’m a grown man. Second off, we work with the humane society, and we got a call that there was dog fighting going on in this area. We’re here to investigate.
: Investigate? Investigate my boot in yo ass.
Mike Laszlo: Sir, I’d advise you to take it down a notch. I’m not here to cause a prob…
He was a rude uneducated man…so of course he interrupted me with a loud obnoxious diatribe.
: PROBLEMS!? WE GOT SOME PROBLEMS BOY! YOU BE ON MY PROPERTY! YOU GOTS NO BUSINESS HERE!
Mike Laszlo: Would you shut the hell up? I’m right here. YOU DON’T HAVE TO YELL ASSHOLE!
I could tell he was taken aback. He was quick with a response though.
: Boy! You done did it now. You on my mutha ****in property and you gonna talk to me like dat? You gonna talk to me like I’m a child.
Mike Laszlo: Sir, I’m going to advise you to allow us to continue our investigation without further incident or I will be forced to call in the local authorities.
: CALL EM!!! YOU AIN’T TAKIN ANOTHA STEP ON MY GROUNDS YA HEAR!?
Mike Laszlo: Sir move along.
I turn around and lead Mariah in front of me to continue when the man gets off his tractor and grabs me by the shoulder, pulling me back toward him. He was a lengthy guy, but there wasn’t an ounce of muscle on him.
Mike Laszlo: Touch me again and it will be the last thing you do. Back away and let us do what we came to do.
: You sum bitch. You make me back away boy.
Before I could retaliate, Mariah had carried on, not realizing that I had been pulled around. She found another dog behind some bushes, laying in the mud.
Mariah Harmony: Mike, look.
I turned and headed in her direction, the man following behind me. As he saw the dog, he immediately went into defense mode.
: That’s my dog. Get the hell away.
Upon further review, there were fleas all over the dog, which like the other was extremely emaciated and had scars on its body.
Mike Laszlo: Oh that’s your dog huh?
: Damn right fool. Back the hell up.
Mariah Harmony: If this is your dog, and you’ve left it in this condition. Shame on you.
Mike Laszlo: (Tossing a pair of cutters down to Mariah.) Take it.
: TAKE IT!? WHAT DA HELL YOU MEAN TAKE IT!?
Mike Laszlo: We’re taking possession of this animal based on the fact that there is obviously a lack of caring or support.
: I FEED THE BEAST! I GIVE IT WATA!
Mike Laszlo: Really? Do you see it? It’s bone thin, and there’s fleas all over it. You should be ashamed. You shouldn’t ever be able to own another animal.
The man runs up and knocks Mariah back to the ground just as the rest of our crew reaches the situation.
Tia Torres: HEY!
The man grabs hold of the leash and pulls a gun from his waistband, pointing it right at Tia who immediately stops in her tracks.
: BACK AWAY YOU FIREHEAD BITCH! THIS HERE BE MY DOG AND YOU AIN’T TAKIN HIM NOWHERES!
Instinctively, from behind the man, I grabbed hold of his arms in a full nelson with his arms aimed up to the sky so that he didn’t have the gun aimed at anyone.
Mike Laszlo: Hand over the gun, and the dog before I break both of your arms.
One of the parolees came up and took the gun, quickly handing it to Tia as Tania called 9-1-1 to bring in the local sheriff’s department. Mariah took the dog and walked over to her mother. Pressing my foot on both of the man’s knees, he kneeled down into the mud.
Mike Laszlo: Hands on your head and stay that way before I knock you into next week.
He looked up at me with a scowl before the police showed up. This was a bad area and cops were never too far away. They took our statements and booked the man on charges of dog fighting. As part of the arrest, they seized all of his animals and gave Villalobos permission to take five pit bulls from the scene, scattered throughout the property. Are crew got in the vans with the dogs secure in crates and headed back to Villalobos with five new residents. On the way back Tia and I had a back and forth.
Tia Torres: That was really close. Thank you so much for protecting my daughter.
Mike Laszlo: Wasn’t a problem. This experience has really opened my eyes.
Tia Torres: Really? How so?
Mike Laszlo: Well, I’m not naïve. There’s always going to be assholes on this planet that do bad things. There’s just no stopping it. Some of the horrors though, like seeing that skeleton back there and feeling the emotion, seeing it pour out of all of us. It really touched me. To know that someone just let that dog lie there and die. It’s just a bunch of bull****.
Tia Torres: It is bull****. That’s why we’re down here. We’re here to help. I wish there could be more of us to go around, but we can only do so much.
Mike Laszlo: Maybe not. There’s a lot we can do. It takes one person to make a difference. You, Tania, Mariah, now me. We fight the fight because they can’t. I have a plan. This started with me wanting a dog, but now, after what we just did, I want more.
Tia Torres: What did you have in mind?
Mike Laszlo: We’ll talk when we get back. I want to think it over on the ride.
Tia Torres: Okay.
The rest of the ride was rather quiet. It was a time to reflect on what just happened and exactly what I was about to get myself into.
====================
You’ve done a lot Roberto and there isn’t a damn person in this world who is taking any of that away from you, especially not me.
You’re a former National Champion and X Champion.
You’re the 2011 Rookie of the Year.
You were runner up as the all-out Wrestler of the Year.
You’re one of a short list, me included of men who have defeated Xander Famularo.
You’re the current World Champion.
Nobody is nor will they ever debate the skills you possess in that ring. After this Sunday, they will either know you as the man who needed HELP to keep me from the World Title, or they’ll know you as THE MAN who kept me from the World Title.
As much as you want to believe it Roberto, the masses that follow the product we put out…they’re not stupid.
They know our past.
They know that I beat you then you beat me.
They know you beat me in the Road to the Gold and again at Breaking Point.
They know you did so cleanly at Road to the Gold, and they know you did so in a tainted fashion at Breaking Away.
They know that I had you beat at Breaking Away before Lex Sense, and they know that I would have driven my knee into your face at Mind Games, and although you’ve kicked out of Widowmakers and other devastating finishers, you’ve never kicked out of the Malicious Intent…and they know it.
More importantly, I know it, and just as importantly…you know it.
It’s been proven time and time again that when the lights are at their brightest, you can’t beat me one-on-one. You can sit there and mention the Road to the Gold where you defeated me and advanced, but the two of us both know that the Road to the Gold is merely an opening act compared to where we are now.
You’ve had two occasions to prove that you were straight out, purely better than me with the lights at their absolute brightest, and you couldn’t do it. This Sunday you have the chance again, and again…you will fail.
Through all of the rambling you did though, I have to say that there is still one part of your diatribe that has stuck in my head. See? You can’t say I didn’t listen.
You said, that the good wrestlers can reach out and touch the gold only to fail, while the great ones seize the opportunity, snatch the particular moment by the throat and dominate.
You Roberto are good. After this Sunday, I prove to you and the world that I am great. For you see you haven’t snatched anything by the throat. You seized your opportunity to take that World Title from Andrew Jacobsen but since then, since you were talked into choosing me…by me, you’ve done nothing but helplessly clutch at that belt in a desperate attempt on two occasions to keep it from me. You’ve dominated nothing.
This Sunday, live on the to-date grandest stage of my career, Metamorphosis, Cell Match, World Title on the line; I seize my moment. I grab you by the throat. I dominate you with the worst beating you’ve ever sustained in your entire life, and I physically take the World Title from your clutching grasp.
This Sunday, when the lights are on brightest, I use every resource at my disposal to take that belt, and then, at the very end, I plant my knee square between your eyes, and I snuff out the last seconds of the Roberto Verona era.
At Metamorphosis, I guarantee you that you will know by night’s end that you were in the absolute biggest fight you’ve ever been in, in your entire life. Sunday, when my knee connects with your face, you will find out that your best...just wasn’t good enough.
Either that or you’re the most convoluted person I have ever listened to in my entire life.
You want me to admit to the world that Roberto Verona is the better man if I were to lose this Sunday. I’ll tell you what Roberto, I’ll do just that as I’ve done in the past…WHEN YOU BEAT ME. When you beat me at Road to the Gold, I said you were better, just as you did me the times that I beat you. You’ve said it, and I’ve said it, we are talented individuals and the things we’ve done and said to each other take nothing away from that fact. We’ve come to a stalemate around here and it’s time to put an end to it once and for all.
You used Lex Sense’s boot to your advantage as I said I would have and I’ve never once blamed you for doing so. I didn’t once say that you taking advantage was unfair. My beef was that you couldn’t beat me by yourself because you didn’t. By all means, I congratulate you to this date on doing anything to hold onto that belt because I would be the same way.
At Mind Games, you didn’t even win. I did. Three falls to two. You got the technicality, but I hold the victory. I don’t blame you for bragging that you kept the title because of disqualification. It’s yours…for now.
You see, you’re like a lot of people in the world and you like to misconstrue things. Our situation here isn’t a lot unlike “The Decision” in 2010 of LeBron James leaving for the Miami Heat. People aren’t mad at LeBron for leaving; he had every right as a free agent; just as people aren’t mad at you for taking advantage of your rights as champion. What they are mad about in each situation is the way in which each individual, LeBron James, and Roberto Verona, have gone about doing the deed.
LeBron James went on national TV and spurned his hometown, treating them as if they were nothing. He went to the Miami Heat to join Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade because, much like Roberto Verona, he couldn’t get the job done on his own. He wanted his championship, much like Roberto Verona, by any means necessary.
The two of you got what you wanted. The difference is, nobody can take away LeBron’s title…this Sunday Roberto…with no excuses…with no help…I’m taking yours.
Though I don’t plan on it for a single solitary second Roberto, if I lose this Sunday, I won’t grovel at your feet, kiss your boot, and beg for another opportunity. I will shake your hand and call you the better man in the center of that ring. If not on Sunday due to exhaustion or injury or whatever, then the next possible opportunity, it will happen. I hope you’re willing to do the same…when I win…not if.
The match this Sunday is of the upmost importance in the history of NCW. Two men who have done war for over three months’ time will do battle one last time inside the most fear inducing structure known to man.
There will be no outside interference.
There will be no outside force.
There will be no Lex Sense or Ray Gross.
The mind games will come to a halt and it will simply be two of the best that this company has to offer in the center of the ring doing what this company strives for its best to do…put on a show one more time.
This is my last shot at the World Title as long as it is around your waist. It is my third shot at this belt in the last three months. Just like my match against Xander, Roberto…the third time is and will be the charm.
====================
Title: Want Turns to Need (The Rescue)
Location: Louisiana Swampland
Time: 1:03 PM Local Time
By the time we had talked and packed the gear up for this rescue, then drove to the place where the rescue was to take place, it had been about an hour and a half. We took the drive into the swampier part of Louisiana. New Orleans is a ripe spot in the United States for dog fighting and really needed a group like Villalobos to come down and help with the crackdown on this brutal “sport” that was brutally harmful for animals. I personally think that anyone who decides to fight dogs should then be locked in a cage with that dog, just to see how they fair as it rips them apart. Dog fighting is stupid and that’s the bottom line.
Anyway, we pull up to a wooded area that surrounds a group of mobile homes. If you’ve heard the term trailer park trash, this was the pictorial definition. As we got out of the car, the group of Tia, Mariah, Tania, three parolees, and myself, surveyed the area and could tell rather quickly that this was a dog fighting holding area. As we crept into the backyard areas, we saw multiple metal steaks driven into the ground with attached chains where the dogs presumably were kept, just close enough so they could snip at each other on the chain…another tease. We continued on and all of a sudden we heard Mariah to my right as we sort of split off into small groups.
Mariah Harmony: Oh my God.
As I looked over I saw her hands over her face in horror at what she had seen. I walked over and looked down and to my shock, there was a chain that led to a collar around the neck of a skeleton in the shape of a dog. You don’t know until you see it, but it truly was a saddening sight. Me personally, it only made me angrier. How could someone do this to a dog? An animal meant to be a household pet? Sick bastards.
Mariah was in tears though she was trying hard to fight them back. I consoled her with a hug as she cried a bit on my shoulder.
Mike Laszlo: This is uncalled for. We have to find any and all dogs that we can find and get them the hell out of here.
Tia Torres: (Walking over toward us.) It might not be that simple. It is stealing.
Mike Laszlo: Take pictures of this whole area as we walk around. Any judge will see this and applaud us.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, snapping a picture of the skeleton for proof that this was a horrible situation. As we looked around some more, we separated a bit more around the area in groups of two when in the distance, back in the woods, we heard one of the parolees.
Parolee: MS. TIA! OVER HERE!
Everybody ran through the woods to where his voice had come from and as we got there we saw a little tan colored pit bull, extremely emaciated, happy as can be to see us as was evident by the wiggling of her back half of her body.
Tia Torres: We can’t just take her.
Mike Laszlo: The hell we can’t. She’s tied up in the woods away from any of these “homes” and I use that term loosely.
Mariah Harmony: He’s right mom.
She stood there with her hands on her hips, accessing the situation. Finally, rather quickly, she saw it my way.
Tia Torres: Alright, let’s do this.
She hooked the dog with a rope as I took a pair of bolt cutters and cut the worn, size too small, collar from the dog’s neck.
Mike Laszlo: There ya go girl.
The dog shook in fear as she had no clue what was happening. Slowly, Tia began walking toward the van with the crates, followed by two of the parolees to keep her safe, not knowing what dangers might be around the corner. As she took the dog back to the van, Tania and the remaining parolee headed in one direction and Mariah and I in another. Soon after, as Tania’s team disappeared into the woods, we heard what sounded like a riding lawn mower. At first we dismissed it, but quickly, it got louder and louder, and looking over my shoulder, I saw a thirty-something black man in black shorts, a white t-shirt, and a New Orleans Saints hat, riding his mower in our direction.
Mariah Harmony: Oh crap.
Mike Laszlo: Don’t worry. Stay close, and I’ll make sure you’re good.
Mariah Harmony: He could have a gun.
Mike Laszlo: True, we’ll just have to play it out.
As he got closer, he started yelling at us.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: (To Mariah.) Act like you can’t hear him. Just keep going.
As he got within a few feet of us, I turned my head and acknowledged him as he yelled again.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
The two of us stopped in our tracks and turned toward the man as Mariah took a step back as I told her to.
Mike Laszlo: WHAT!?
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: I CAN’T HEAR YOU! TURN THE TRACTOR OFF!
He did so and we could finally go back to talking instead of a screaming match.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: First off, I’m a grown man. Second off, we work with the humane society, and we got a call that there was dog fighting going on in this area. We’re here to investigate.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: Sir, I’d advise you to take it down a notch. I’m not here to cause a prob…
He was a rude uneducated man…so of course he interrupted me with a loud obnoxious diatribe.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: Would you shut the hell up? I’m right here. YOU DON’T HAVE TO YELL ASSHOLE!
I could tell he was taken aback. He was quick with a response though.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: Sir, I’m going to advise you to allow us to continue our investigation without further incident or I will be forced to call in the local authorities.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: Sir move along.
I turn around and lead Mariah in front of me to continue when the man gets off his tractor and grabs me by the shoulder, pulling me back toward him. He was a lengthy guy, but there wasn’t an ounce of muscle on him.
Mike Laszlo: Touch me again and it will be the last thing you do. Back away and let us do what we came to do.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Before I could retaliate, Mariah had carried on, not realizing that I had been pulled around. She found another dog behind some bushes, laying in the mud.
Mariah Harmony: Mike, look.
I turned and headed in her direction, the man following behind me. As he saw the dog, he immediately went into defense mode.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Upon further review, there were fleas all over the dog, which like the other was extremely emaciated and had scars on its body.
Mike Laszlo: Oh that’s your dog huh?
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mariah Harmony: If this is your dog, and you’ve left it in this condition. Shame on you.
Mike Laszlo: (Tossing a pair of cutters down to Mariah.) Take it.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: We’re taking possession of this animal based on the fact that there is obviously a lack of caring or support.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Mike Laszlo: Really? Do you see it? It’s bone thin, and there’s fleas all over it. You should be ashamed. You shouldn’t ever be able to own another animal.
The man runs up and knocks Mariah back to the ground just as the rest of our crew reaches the situation.
Tia Torres: HEY!
The man grabs hold of the leash and pulls a gun from his waistband, pointing it right at Tia who immediately stops in her tracks.
![???](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png)
Instinctively, from behind the man, I grabbed hold of his arms in a full nelson with his arms aimed up to the sky so that he didn’t have the gun aimed at anyone.
Mike Laszlo: Hand over the gun, and the dog before I break both of your arms.
One of the parolees came up and took the gun, quickly handing it to Tia as Tania called 9-1-1 to bring in the local sheriff’s department. Mariah took the dog and walked over to her mother. Pressing my foot on both of the man’s knees, he kneeled down into the mud.
Mike Laszlo: Hands on your head and stay that way before I knock you into next week.
He looked up at me with a scowl before the police showed up. This was a bad area and cops were never too far away. They took our statements and booked the man on charges of dog fighting. As part of the arrest, they seized all of his animals and gave Villalobos permission to take five pit bulls from the scene, scattered throughout the property. Are crew got in the vans with the dogs secure in crates and headed back to Villalobos with five new residents. On the way back Tia and I had a back and forth.
Tia Torres: That was really close. Thank you so much for protecting my daughter.
Mike Laszlo: Wasn’t a problem. This experience has really opened my eyes.
Tia Torres: Really? How so?
Mike Laszlo: Well, I’m not naïve. There’s always going to be assholes on this planet that do bad things. There’s just no stopping it. Some of the horrors though, like seeing that skeleton back there and feeling the emotion, seeing it pour out of all of us. It really touched me. To know that someone just let that dog lie there and die. It’s just a bunch of bull****.
Tia Torres: It is bull****. That’s why we’re down here. We’re here to help. I wish there could be more of us to go around, but we can only do so much.
Mike Laszlo: Maybe not. There’s a lot we can do. It takes one person to make a difference. You, Tania, Mariah, now me. We fight the fight because they can’t. I have a plan. This started with me wanting a dog, but now, after what we just did, I want more.
Tia Torres: What did you have in mind?
Mike Laszlo: We’ll talk when we get back. I want to think it over on the ride.
Tia Torres: Okay.
The rest of the ride was rather quiet. It was a time to reflect on what just happened and exactly what I was about to get myself into.
====================
You’ve done a lot Roberto and there isn’t a damn person in this world who is taking any of that away from you, especially not me.
You’re a former National Champion and X Champion.
You’re the 2011 Rookie of the Year.
You were runner up as the all-out Wrestler of the Year.
You’re one of a short list, me included of men who have defeated Xander Famularo.
You’re the current World Champion.
Nobody is nor will they ever debate the skills you possess in that ring. After this Sunday, they will either know you as the man who needed HELP to keep me from the World Title, or they’ll know you as THE MAN who kept me from the World Title.
As much as you want to believe it Roberto, the masses that follow the product we put out…they’re not stupid.
They know our past.
They know that I beat you then you beat me.
They know you beat me in the Road to the Gold and again at Breaking Point.
They know you did so cleanly at Road to the Gold, and they know you did so in a tainted fashion at Breaking Away.
They know that I had you beat at Breaking Away before Lex Sense, and they know that I would have driven my knee into your face at Mind Games, and although you’ve kicked out of Widowmakers and other devastating finishers, you’ve never kicked out of the Malicious Intent…and they know it.
More importantly, I know it, and just as importantly…you know it.
It’s been proven time and time again that when the lights are at their brightest, you can’t beat me one-on-one. You can sit there and mention the Road to the Gold where you defeated me and advanced, but the two of us both know that the Road to the Gold is merely an opening act compared to where we are now.
You’ve had two occasions to prove that you were straight out, purely better than me with the lights at their absolute brightest, and you couldn’t do it. This Sunday you have the chance again, and again…you will fail.
Through all of the rambling you did though, I have to say that there is still one part of your diatribe that has stuck in my head. See? You can’t say I didn’t listen.
You said, that the good wrestlers can reach out and touch the gold only to fail, while the great ones seize the opportunity, snatch the particular moment by the throat and dominate.
You Roberto are good. After this Sunday, I prove to you and the world that I am great. For you see you haven’t snatched anything by the throat. You seized your opportunity to take that World Title from Andrew Jacobsen but since then, since you were talked into choosing me…by me, you’ve done nothing but helplessly clutch at that belt in a desperate attempt on two occasions to keep it from me. You’ve dominated nothing.
This Sunday, live on the to-date grandest stage of my career, Metamorphosis, Cell Match, World Title on the line; I seize my moment. I grab you by the throat. I dominate you with the worst beating you’ve ever sustained in your entire life, and I physically take the World Title from your clutching grasp.
This Sunday, when the lights are on brightest, I use every resource at my disposal to take that belt, and then, at the very end, I plant my knee square between your eyes, and I snuff out the last seconds of the Roberto Verona era.
At Metamorphosis, I guarantee you that you will know by night’s end that you were in the absolute biggest fight you’ve ever been in, in your entire life. Sunday, when my knee connects with your face, you will find out that your best...just wasn’t good enough.