Post by Will Washington on Apr 13, 2013 5:35:55 GMT -6
"Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderes, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always." - Mahatma Gandhi
{Down in the gym we find Will Washington kicking away at a punching bag hung from the ceiling. He lays in some stiff kicks and mixes in the occasional punch or forearm shot. He hears footsteps approaching on the marble floor, causing him to half-turn his head while throwing another kick.}
Washington: "What do you want?"
Kristen: "Well that's certainly a friendly greeting if I've ever heard one."
{Will continues to kick while responding to his fiance."
Washington: "Sorry. You just... know I've... got a lot going on.... right now."
Kristen: "I'm aware. I'm also aware that you're going to drop dead from exhaustion if you don't ease up."
Washington: "I don't have... time to... ease up. I have.... a big... match..."
{The woman walks over and grabs the punching bag, hugging it so Will will stop.}
Kristen: "Take a break, jeez. You've been down here since you woke up."
Washington: "Sovereign is this weekend. You don't think Verona is taking a break, do you?"
Kristen: "I'm sure he's off babysitting Kelly and Adam's kid or washing their car. Doing something to pay them back for giving him the world."
Washington: "As true as that may be, I don't have the luxury of time. I only have a few days left before the biggest match of my life."
{Kristen releases the punching bag and walks over, leaning against the wall.}
Kristen: "I'm just glad you said 'biggest match' instead of 'biggest day'. I was ready to throw a few kicks of my own."
Washington: "Really? What day could be a bigger day that Sunday? Hmm..."
Kristen: "Will I swear to..."
Washington: "Well I certainly can't think of anything bigger."
{Kristen runs back over and playfully kicks Will in the leg as he runs in a circle, trying to avoid it. He stops and turns, pulling his fiance in and hugging her from behind.}
Washington: "Haha. Okay. Sorry!"
Kristen: "Eww. Let me go. You're all sweaty and gross."
{Will releases his fiance who wipes the moisture from her arms.}
Washington: "I imagine that's how Jimmy Turner's wife feels every day."
Kristen: "Wait.... Jimmy Turner, the janitor, got married?"
Washington: "I don't know. The last I heard he was dating Gib's less famous daughter, Princess Peach Famularo."
Kristen: "Okay, that's definitely made up."
Washington: "Yeah, but it sounds like something that could be true, doesn't it?"
{Our hero grabs a towel from the bench press and pats his brow.}
Washington: "But seriously though... Sunday is huge, and as much as I would love to spend the day with you looking at flowers or going to magic shows or whatever it is you girls like to do with your free time... I've got a match to win."
Kristen: "... I go to one magic show once for my nephew's birthday, and you act like it's an every day occurence."
{Will throws his towel on the floor and begins punching away at the bag again as Kristen looks on with a look of pride. After a few quick moments, she interrupts by grabbing the bag again, bringing an annoyed look to Will's face.}
Washington: "Again? Really?"
Kristen: "Sorry. I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens with you on Sunday, we're all going to be just as proud of you afterwards as we were before. No title belt or triumphant victory could make your family love you any more than they do."
Washington: "Ughhh. What have I told you about bringing that heartfelt, mushy stuff into the gym? This gym is for manly stuff like fighting and eating beef jerky."
Kristen: "Says the guy who was trying to hug me like... a minute ago."
Washington: "That wasn't a hug. That was my manly instinct to wrestle any and all enemies. You've never heard of the Bearhug? Because that was it."
Kristen: "Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that, Will."
Washington: "I will keep telling myself that, because it's the truth. Now get out of here so I can train for my match!"
{Kristen lets go of the punching bag again and smiles before walking off. Washington goes back to his attack on the bag, when suddenly the footsteps approach again. Will throws his hands up in the air and looks over with annoyance.}
Washington: "Oh come on!"
Kristen: "Just one more thing."
Washington: "Yeah..."
Kristen: "I know you said no mushy stuff, but I just want to mention again how proud of you we all are. Especially your parents. They're so happy with the man that you've become in the last few years. Not just in life, but in wrestling too. Your mom was telling me today about how you always talked about being champion when you were a little boy, and now you're actually going to do it."
Washington: "It's been a long journey from wrestling my friends on the playground to wrestling in front of thirty thousand people, but even today I'm just as happy doing it as I was then."
Kristen: "Really? Aww."
Washington: "But that journey isn't over yet, and it won't be until I can finally hold that championship belt and call it my own. Then an entire new journey will begin."
Kristen: "I'm definitely looking forward to going on it with you."
Washington: "Well it's going to be hard to do with somebody constantly busting up my training session."
Kristen: "Looks like I overstayed my welcome, didn't I?"
Washington: "A little bit..."
{Kristen scurries off again and Will prepares to start up his attack... and then more footsteps approach.}
Kristen: "... Will."
Washington: "What is it this time?!?"
Kristen: "Love you."
{She says with a mocking smile before scurrying off again. Will looks down and smiles, shaking his head.}
Washington: "Women."
{Our hero looks back up and throws another punch at the bag as we fade to black.}
__________________________________________________________________________________
"I'm sitting here at a loss for words. What can I say that hasn't been said a thousand times by myself, or anyone who has ever stood in my shoes. I mean... you certainly don't mind repeating yourself.
I can play the role of the plucky underdog challenger who is going to buck the system. Or I could be the unstoppable force that's going to run over the champion and establish his new dominance. There are so many things that could be said, but they've all been said before. So I'm going to take a new, refreshing approach, Roberto. I'm going to put all my cards on the table."
I've always tried to be what I thought I needed to be when I needed to be it. I came in here as a tough, guarded kid because life had hit me so hard that I didn't think I'd ever feel normal again. I came here to hurt people and ruin lives the way I perceived mine to be ruined. Then NCW needed a hero to stand up for good and show that it wasn't all bad. I tried to be that hero, despite the fact that none of my feelings had changed. I put on a mask and made you all believe that I had changed.
... and then after some time off I came back to 'save' NCW, and its' talent.
Through every phase of my career, the one constant has been my desire to be NCW World Champion. Even when I was sidetracked in feuds with people like Andrew Jacobsen, I still had that gold weighing heavily on my mind. You don't get into this business without a drive to be the best, and that championship shows everyone that you truly are the best in the world.
And despite my best efforts, every time I got a shot at the big time, I came up short. My Coliseum win lead nowhere... Road to the Gold finals went nowhere... and I got the reputation of being a choke artist. Everyone may have given up on me, but I never did. I knew that deep down one day it would all pay off. One day I'd finally put the pieces together and do what used to be considered a foregone conclusion, and win that World Championship.
"That's exactly what I plan on doing this Sunday, Roberto.
See... I've been a lot of things. Soldier, Gladiator, Tag Team Champion... but above all else, I'm a man. I'm a man who has been dreaming of being World Champion since he was five years old. A lot of me died when in Iraq, but one thing that always kept me going was that five year old Will living inside my brain, telling me that there's a whole other world out there outside of my own. That little voice in my head telling me that no dream is too big... and that's what this is for me, Verona. This is my dream. This is my story. I'm a man who has one final chance to make it all happen, and I'm not going to let this slip through my fingers again.
... I'm holding on with everything I've got.
More than a childhood dream even... this is about my legacy here in NCW. It's about proving to not only myself, but everyone who's ever seen me wrestle that it was all worth it. This is about being the forty-third greatest NCW star ever, when I know that I'm better than every single person ranked above me. It's about no longer being known as 'Former Tag Team Champion' or 'Former Gladiator', and instead being known as one of the greatest to ever step into a wrestling ring. I've always known how damn good I am, and you should too. You've been in the ring with me... but it's about having that one moment that proves it.
And it's not just me who has a lot on the line this Sunday, is it Roberto? No, no, no. I can see that look in your eyes... I hear that tone in your voice. You know that A Night to Remember is quickly approaching, and you know that you're running out of time. You've had that title for longer than anyone else in the company's history... but the look in your eyes betrays the words that you speak. You know that all those days as champion don't amount to much in the eyes of the fans or in the eyes of anyone involved with this company. Your title reign has been marred with underhanded tactics and narrow escapes with the belt, and you know that no one looks at you in the same light you see yourself.
Angel... Falcon... Knite... Gib. All men your title reign has eclipsed, but still men that outshine you. No one looks at you and thinks of you as an all-time great, and it's killing you. You see yourself as the 'King' of NCW, but we all know who the real king is... we all know that you're just the whiny boy throwing a tantrum because you're playing king and nobody else will play your silly little games. I mean you're what... the two thousandth wrestler to call himself 'King'?
We don't bow to you, Roberto.
With each passing day you see your opportunity to climb into the ranks of the legends slowly fading away. You're beginning to worry about the same thing so many of us our worried about... 'How will I be remembered?' You clearly want to be recognized as a demigod, but truth be told, you'll be seen as one of NCW's great missed opportunities. See Roberto... you were given so much talent, and yet, you've managed to overshadow your own ability with your delusions of grandeur. You sold your soul and your pride to be champion, two things you'll never see again.
So now I have you exactly where I want you. You're too wrapped up in false confidence to realize the test that truly faces you at Sovereign. You aren't just fighting Will Washington, oh no. You also have your own out-of-control ego to contend with. For one of us, this will be the last chance to prove ourselves. Either I will go down as one of the most underachieving wrestlers of all-time, or you will end up as one hundred and fifty or so days that time forgot. Somebody's story ends on Sunday... right now we're both just fighting to keep the curtain up for as long as possible.
And even though you may have turned back challenges in the past... a submission expert... a wrestling prodigy... an insane giant... and whatever Mike Laszlo is... you've got your biggest test ever: someone who knows exactly what they are. You step into that ring with a man who makes no allusions to being anything more than what he is... a man hungry for blood, and even hungrier for gold. Because I may dislike you as much as humanly possible, but that title belt is what I'm after.
... and I won't stop until it's in my hands.
This is it for us. We both head into Sovereign with something to prove. The only difference is that I'm man enough to admit it.
Are you, King Roberto?"
{Down in the gym we find Will Washington kicking away at a punching bag hung from the ceiling. He lays in some stiff kicks and mixes in the occasional punch or forearm shot. He hears footsteps approaching on the marble floor, causing him to half-turn his head while throwing another kick.}
Washington: "What do you want?"
Kristen: "Well that's certainly a friendly greeting if I've ever heard one."
{Will continues to kick while responding to his fiance."
Washington: "Sorry. You just... know I've... got a lot going on.... right now."
Kristen: "I'm aware. I'm also aware that you're going to drop dead from exhaustion if you don't ease up."
Washington: "I don't have... time to... ease up. I have.... a big... match..."
{The woman walks over and grabs the punching bag, hugging it so Will will stop.}
Kristen: "Take a break, jeez. You've been down here since you woke up."
Washington: "Sovereign is this weekend. You don't think Verona is taking a break, do you?"
Kristen: "I'm sure he's off babysitting Kelly and Adam's kid or washing their car. Doing something to pay them back for giving him the world."
Washington: "As true as that may be, I don't have the luxury of time. I only have a few days left before the biggest match of my life."
{Kristen releases the punching bag and walks over, leaning against the wall.}
Kristen: "I'm just glad you said 'biggest match' instead of 'biggest day'. I was ready to throw a few kicks of my own."
Washington: "Really? What day could be a bigger day that Sunday? Hmm..."
Kristen: "Will I swear to..."
Washington: "Well I certainly can't think of anything bigger."
{Kristen runs back over and playfully kicks Will in the leg as he runs in a circle, trying to avoid it. He stops and turns, pulling his fiance in and hugging her from behind.}
Washington: "Haha. Okay. Sorry!"
Kristen: "Eww. Let me go. You're all sweaty and gross."
{Will releases his fiance who wipes the moisture from her arms.}
Washington: "I imagine that's how Jimmy Turner's wife feels every day."
Kristen: "Wait.... Jimmy Turner, the janitor, got married?"
Washington: "I don't know. The last I heard he was dating Gib's less famous daughter, Princess Peach Famularo."
Kristen: "Okay, that's definitely made up."
Washington: "Yeah, but it sounds like something that could be true, doesn't it?"
{Our hero grabs a towel from the bench press and pats his brow.}
Washington: "But seriously though... Sunday is huge, and as much as I would love to spend the day with you looking at flowers or going to magic shows or whatever it is you girls like to do with your free time... I've got a match to win."
Kristen: "... I go to one magic show once for my nephew's birthday, and you act like it's an every day occurence."
{Will throws his towel on the floor and begins punching away at the bag again as Kristen looks on with a look of pride. After a few quick moments, she interrupts by grabbing the bag again, bringing an annoyed look to Will's face.}
Washington: "Again? Really?"
Kristen: "Sorry. I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens with you on Sunday, we're all going to be just as proud of you afterwards as we were before. No title belt or triumphant victory could make your family love you any more than they do."
Washington: "Ughhh. What have I told you about bringing that heartfelt, mushy stuff into the gym? This gym is for manly stuff like fighting and eating beef jerky."
Kristen: "Says the guy who was trying to hug me like... a minute ago."
Washington: "That wasn't a hug. That was my manly instinct to wrestle any and all enemies. You've never heard of the Bearhug? Because that was it."
Kristen: "Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that, Will."
Washington: "I will keep telling myself that, because it's the truth. Now get out of here so I can train for my match!"
{Kristen lets go of the punching bag again and smiles before walking off. Washington goes back to his attack on the bag, when suddenly the footsteps approach again. Will throws his hands up in the air and looks over with annoyance.}
Washington: "Oh come on!"
Kristen: "Just one more thing."
Washington: "Yeah..."
Kristen: "I know you said no mushy stuff, but I just want to mention again how proud of you we all are. Especially your parents. They're so happy with the man that you've become in the last few years. Not just in life, but in wrestling too. Your mom was telling me today about how you always talked about being champion when you were a little boy, and now you're actually going to do it."
Washington: "It's been a long journey from wrestling my friends on the playground to wrestling in front of thirty thousand people, but even today I'm just as happy doing it as I was then."
Kristen: "Really? Aww."
Washington: "But that journey isn't over yet, and it won't be until I can finally hold that championship belt and call it my own. Then an entire new journey will begin."
Kristen: "I'm definitely looking forward to going on it with you."
Washington: "Well it's going to be hard to do with somebody constantly busting up my training session."
Kristen: "Looks like I overstayed my welcome, didn't I?"
Washington: "A little bit..."
{Kristen scurries off again and Will prepares to start up his attack... and then more footsteps approach.}
Kristen: "... Will."
Washington: "What is it this time?!?"
Kristen: "Love you."
{She says with a mocking smile before scurrying off again. Will looks down and smiles, shaking his head.}
Washington: "Women."
{Our hero looks back up and throws another punch at the bag as we fade to black.}
__________________________________________________________________________________
"I'm sitting here at a loss for words. What can I say that hasn't been said a thousand times by myself, or anyone who has ever stood in my shoes. I mean... you certainly don't mind repeating yourself.
I can play the role of the plucky underdog challenger who is going to buck the system. Or I could be the unstoppable force that's going to run over the champion and establish his new dominance. There are so many things that could be said, but they've all been said before. So I'm going to take a new, refreshing approach, Roberto. I'm going to put all my cards on the table."
I've always tried to be what I thought I needed to be when I needed to be it. I came in here as a tough, guarded kid because life had hit me so hard that I didn't think I'd ever feel normal again. I came here to hurt people and ruin lives the way I perceived mine to be ruined. Then NCW needed a hero to stand up for good and show that it wasn't all bad. I tried to be that hero, despite the fact that none of my feelings had changed. I put on a mask and made you all believe that I had changed.
... and then after some time off I came back to 'save' NCW, and its' talent.
Through every phase of my career, the one constant has been my desire to be NCW World Champion. Even when I was sidetracked in feuds with people like Andrew Jacobsen, I still had that gold weighing heavily on my mind. You don't get into this business without a drive to be the best, and that championship shows everyone that you truly are the best in the world.
And despite my best efforts, every time I got a shot at the big time, I came up short. My Coliseum win lead nowhere... Road to the Gold finals went nowhere... and I got the reputation of being a choke artist. Everyone may have given up on me, but I never did. I knew that deep down one day it would all pay off. One day I'd finally put the pieces together and do what used to be considered a foregone conclusion, and win that World Championship.
"That's exactly what I plan on doing this Sunday, Roberto.
See... I've been a lot of things. Soldier, Gladiator, Tag Team Champion... but above all else, I'm a man. I'm a man who has been dreaming of being World Champion since he was five years old. A lot of me died when in Iraq, but one thing that always kept me going was that five year old Will living inside my brain, telling me that there's a whole other world out there outside of my own. That little voice in my head telling me that no dream is too big... and that's what this is for me, Verona. This is my dream. This is my story. I'm a man who has one final chance to make it all happen, and I'm not going to let this slip through my fingers again.
... I'm holding on with everything I've got.
More than a childhood dream even... this is about my legacy here in NCW. It's about proving to not only myself, but everyone who's ever seen me wrestle that it was all worth it. This is about being the forty-third greatest NCW star ever, when I know that I'm better than every single person ranked above me. It's about no longer being known as 'Former Tag Team Champion' or 'Former Gladiator', and instead being known as one of the greatest to ever step into a wrestling ring. I've always known how damn good I am, and you should too. You've been in the ring with me... but it's about having that one moment that proves it.
And it's not just me who has a lot on the line this Sunday, is it Roberto? No, no, no. I can see that look in your eyes... I hear that tone in your voice. You know that A Night to Remember is quickly approaching, and you know that you're running out of time. You've had that title for longer than anyone else in the company's history... but the look in your eyes betrays the words that you speak. You know that all those days as champion don't amount to much in the eyes of the fans or in the eyes of anyone involved with this company. Your title reign has been marred with underhanded tactics and narrow escapes with the belt, and you know that no one looks at you in the same light you see yourself.
Angel... Falcon... Knite... Gib. All men your title reign has eclipsed, but still men that outshine you. No one looks at you and thinks of you as an all-time great, and it's killing you. You see yourself as the 'King' of NCW, but we all know who the real king is... we all know that you're just the whiny boy throwing a tantrum because you're playing king and nobody else will play your silly little games. I mean you're what... the two thousandth wrestler to call himself 'King'?
We don't bow to you, Roberto.
With each passing day you see your opportunity to climb into the ranks of the legends slowly fading away. You're beginning to worry about the same thing so many of us our worried about... 'How will I be remembered?' You clearly want to be recognized as a demigod, but truth be told, you'll be seen as one of NCW's great missed opportunities. See Roberto... you were given so much talent, and yet, you've managed to overshadow your own ability with your delusions of grandeur. You sold your soul and your pride to be champion, two things you'll never see again.
So now I have you exactly where I want you. You're too wrapped up in false confidence to realize the test that truly faces you at Sovereign. You aren't just fighting Will Washington, oh no. You also have your own out-of-control ego to contend with. For one of us, this will be the last chance to prove ourselves. Either I will go down as one of the most underachieving wrestlers of all-time, or you will end up as one hundred and fifty or so days that time forgot. Somebody's story ends on Sunday... right now we're both just fighting to keep the curtain up for as long as possible.
And even though you may have turned back challenges in the past... a submission expert... a wrestling prodigy... an insane giant... and whatever Mike Laszlo is... you've got your biggest test ever: someone who knows exactly what they are. You step into that ring with a man who makes no allusions to being anything more than what he is... a man hungry for blood, and even hungrier for gold. Because I may dislike you as much as humanly possible, but that title belt is what I'm after.
... and I won't stop until it's in my hands.
This is it for us. We both head into Sovereign with something to prove. The only difference is that I'm man enough to admit it.
Are you, King Roberto?"