Post by Lance "The Icon" Ryan on Jun 14, 2008 11:20:41 GMT -6
~*~*~They say that the Superbowl is a harder championship to win than the NBA Title, the World Series and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They say this because the Superbowl is really one game played by two teams. In the world of sports any team can win on any given day, it may not be the best team throughout the entire year, but all that they need at that point is one game. In the other big three sports, over a best of seven series, more often than not you will always see the team with the most talent take away victory. Generally over a series of matches the better team will be the most consistent. Picture Perfect is a lot like the Superbowl in that respect. The main event pits three men that are invariably three of the best that nCw has to offer, that is why they are involved in the match that they are involved in. However while it is undetermined just who the most talented of the three is, that still may be up in the air by the end of Sunday. In a triple threat match, ONE match, all it really takes is a stroke of luck really, being in the right place at the right time, and you can walk away with the biggest prize in the industry. The bottom line is that one man, Lance, Trent or Steve will in fact be the winner of the match this Sunday, will they be the best for certain? No, likely that will still be up for debate after the curtain falls on Picture Perfect 2008. But what we will know is who is the definite leader of nCw going on into the future.~*~*~
~*~*~They say that every person in every profession has a special place that they go to when they need to do their best work. Businessmen have their office, musicians have their tour bus or the studio, and writers often find themselves at home when they are in nature or some other place that inspires what they are writing. For others there isn’t so much a place that they go physically but rather a place that they go to mentally. An emotional state, a state of mind or even a simple emotion; many people say that running on emotions is a tough thing to do, it often leads to more detrimental things than positive. That idea is up for debate however as some people, such as Lance Ryan, have made their living off of wearing their emotions on their sleeves and winning the big time matches in the big time events by doing so. Lance has always been the type of person that tells it exactly how it is all the time and holds nothing back. Some have always had a hard time following his though process as his words seem to change on a whim quite often and he can go from utter hatred for a man to respect on the turn of a dime, or vice versa. It has driven more than a few onlookers mad over the years but nobody can argue with results and results is something that Lance Ryan has to show for all the years that he has spent in the wrestling industry, up to and including the year that he has spent in nCw. Through thick and thin Lance has managed to get away from the footnotes and focus on the task at hand, he has gotten by the loss of his beloved girlfriend, he has gotten by the family torments that have tainted the past year, and much like all of those previous distractions he will put himself into a place where he will get past the loss of his father figure as well. When the time comes for the Main Event on Sunday nothing else will matter except for four things. Lance Ryan, Steve Awesome, Trent Helms and victory. In Lance’s mind there is no excuse for not going out and putting absolutely everything on the line. Much like Trent and Steve, Lance believes that every match should be wrestled like his last, and this match will be no different. Death, Insane Asylums, Suicidal Thoughts and temporary loss of control are all gone. As are Steve’s arrogant attitude and Trent’s self doubt. What it boils down to is quite simple actually. Three men will climb into a wrestling ring, all three will leave all inhibitions in the back, and one man will leave that hellacious match as the nCw World Champion.~*~*~
~*~*~Matthew and Jamie are sitting once again at the Ryan family dining table. They are in conversation already and we listen in.~*~*~[/i]
Jamie: I’m just a little bit concerned, you know? I mean, he was going on about how he wanted to retire to spend more time with Zell and I, and sure, I felt guilty, but now he has decided that he doesn’t want to retire and it’s basically boiling down to being because of grandpa’s death. Maybe he should at least take some time off you know? Get his head on straight.
Matthew: You need to understand your dad though, I have been with him and his career from the start, and the reality really is that he will be fine after he gets into the ring on Sunday. This will all be behind us soon.
Jamie: How can you be so sure? I mean, with the fact that he was contemplating suicide alone, doesn’t that worry you that this match could make things worse? I mean, if he drops the title, isn’t that going to make him worse off?
Matt: Nope. Not your brother. For the past, I’d say, two years it has really stopped being about the title that he holds. That’s not to say that he doesn’t enjoy being the World Champion, but in reality he simply believes that the title should be held by the best man in the company, and he is honestly proud when he gets beaten because it shows that the level of competition has gone up. When he gets into that ring he goes into a different place spiritually and he turns it up a couple of notches. He has always been able to put anything aside for the good of the business, and this Sunday will be no different. Win or lose, Lance will once again put on the match of his life and if he wins he will be happy and if he loses he will be happy.
Jamie: I can only hope that one day people talk about me in the ring the same way that they talk about dad. All that I ever here is how he is one of the best ion the history of the business, the way that he always saves his best for the big shows and how he, behind the scenes, is nothing but the consummate gentleman. All I have heard about with other guys is how their talent gets into their heads. Like it has with Steve Awesome, and they tend to become political animals and really will do anything to hold people back. Dad does that in character but I have never heard anyone accuse him of that outside of the ring, save for Reckless Jack.
Matthew: He is really a poster boy for what a true champion should be, not a lot of people have ever been like him, nor will their likely be many more in the future. It seems that the business is going that arrogant way of late, not a lot of guys out there with an even head on their shoulders. But back to what you said originally, I don’t think that you have anything to worry about, once he hears his entrance music, Lance is going to be fine. This past couple of weeks will be in his hindsight and grandpa will be officially gone but not forgotten. They say that the most important thing to do when someone close passes away is to get back into the daily grind and do your best to live on. That is what Lance will be effectively doing come Sunday.
Jamie: I hope that you are right, though I am sure that you are. You have been with him your entire life, I believe your take on things.
~*~*~Suddenly both men are jolted as the sound of Lance’s voice scares them.~*~*~[/i]\
Lance: It seems that my ears are burning. Is this all that the two of you have to do these days? Talk about how you think I am doing and talk about how you think I am going to be? Honestly, did I really put the scare into you both that much? You really need to always look past the actions and analyze the thoughts when it comes to me. Especially you Matt, you know how badly I reacted when Josh passed away, this was basically one of those instances of pre-emptive strike. I knew how deep I fell when that happened, and the last thing that I wanted to do was have another real scare like that. That’s why I did what I did. I knew that I have clearly the biggest match of my life coming up this Sunday, two of the top names in the business, and I knew where I needed my head to be. So essentially what I did was take myself to a place where I could clear my head, and without the distractions of the outside world get my head to exactly where it needed to be. I needed to deal with Grandpa’s passing in the only way that I knew how, and I did. I also needed to make sure that I could get all of my emotions into check because as we all know, I am a strange animal that gets by on strictly my emotional state. I needed to make sure that I was not heading into this match depressed and broken and in fact got myself into the place where I could be determined, driven and even pissed off. To earn this title it takes about 75% skill and 25% determination. Anyone can win their match on any given night, that’s why determination is important, you need to not look by anyone and you need to not take anyone lightly. I am in that place now, and there is in my mind, no way that Trent Helms or Steve Awesome can take what is mine.
Jamie: I’m sorry that I seem to be second guessing you, it’s just that as we all know, I haven’t been in your life for a terribly long time, and I don’t really know how you react to situations like this. I don’t think any son hopes to ever see the day when he sees his dad locked in a rubber room, especially when it was his choice. It’s damning to the father/son relationship. Now that I know that you are in the home stretch to, I didn’t want to interrupt your mindset and ask you, so I did the next best thing, I asked your brother.
Lance: I understand that son. But you need to really know two things. First of all, if Matt felt that there was any risk to me returning to the ring this Sunday, he would have called me out of the match whether I wanted it or not, that’s why he is my manager, and that’s why I love him. He always has known what is best for me, even when it’s not been clear for me. Secondly, never feel like you cannot approach me, especially since I have decided that it’s not time yet for me to leave the business. You need to know that there is nothing that you can say or do that will take me off my game. While wrestling is very important to me, your brother and you are more important. If you are worried, upset, or have a wrong idea about what is going on, ask me, I will always be there as your father now, and much more important is that than my career.
Jamie: Ok, awesome. I understand. Thanks dad.
Lance: No problem. Ok, moving on, I need to take a trip out today. I need to really get to the gym and make sure that I have my stamina up for tomorrow night, it’s been a hard week.
Matthew: No problem. I can take you over there if you like.
~*~*~Matthew gets up from the table and Lance picks up his duffel bag from the floor. Before he leaves he walks over to Jamie and shakes his hand.~*~*~[/i]
Lance: Thanks for being strong through all of this son. If it weren’t for you and your brother, I’m not sure that I wouldn’t be in a much worse place right now.
~*~*~The scene fades to static and we get some music for a moment.~*~*~
Oh I see your scars I know where they're from
So sensually carved and bleeding until you're dead and gone
I've seen it all before beauty and splendor torn
It's when heaven turns to black and hell to white
Right so wrong and wrong so right[/i]
~*~*~When the static fades back into a picture we see Lance and Matthew driving down the street in Lance’s black convertible. Both men have their sunglasses on and there is a silence in the car for a moment or two that is broken by Lance.~*~*~[/i]
Lance: This truly will be a true test for me bro. These two are amazing talents, all weaknesses and shortfalls aside, Trent Helms and Steve Awesome are indeed going to challenge my claim to being the best that nCw has to offer. Did you get a chance to see the last promos that that cut for our match? I mean, there really is a lot of intensity and a lot of dreaming being done by both men.
Matthew: Yeah, I saw them. Trent took the high road, and Steve took the low road. How did you cope with the fact that he went to visit the grave?
~*~*~We see anger instantly wash over the face of Lance and he takes of the shades. He looks straight ahead at the road and manages to hold back his anger and speak in a very slow and even voice.~*~*~[/i]
Lance: I am really torn on that you know? I mean, I cannot believe that he had the audacity to go to the grave and of all things, dedicate his victory to the memory of my grandfather. It didn’t bother me that he went there, the reality is that I was the one that brought family into this. I have always blurred the line between personal and professional. I feel that my fans deserve to know what is really going on in my life, and I have also believed that by doing so, I made sure that my family could be with me as much as possible. Thus, the reality is that should not shock anyone that Steve stooped to the low of going to see my grandpa. He was doing exactly what anyone in his position would do, looking for a way into my head. You see, like I said last time I had a camera on me, Steve’s weakness is his arrogance, but I am also starting to see something else in him…desperation. Steve Awesome has likely been studying tapes of me, preparing for this match, and I think he finally realized something. Even though he puts up a good front that he believes that he is better than me, he has clearly realized that he needs to try and do something to take me off my game. All that was, was simple mind games. Steve figured by showing up at the grave that he would get me so angry that it would help me lose direction in this match, and let’s be honest, that’s not what he has done. If anything he has made me even more focused. Steve may be studying tapes of me in the ring, but clearly he has lost focus on what I have done here, and how I react to personal attacks. It is no secret to anyone that I perform best on the main stage. Look at nCw, there really is only two gears for me when it comes to pay-per-view matches. High gear, and overdrive. Overdrive has been reserved for very special people, the people that I hold no respect for, the people that I could care less if they get hurt. Look what has happened in the past here, Spike Kane tried to get inside my head using my personal life, Reckless Jack tried to get into my head by taking the personal route as well…where are they now? They have the big “L” next to their names in the history books. You see, because I have always run off of emotions, I have always been at my best when I see a reason other than retaining to turn my gears up. This match was simply a match about three competitive guys until Steve went to the grave, now, he is in the crosshairs of a very dangerous weapon.
Matthew: I think that his actions were a huge slap in the face to you though. You cant tell me that it didn’t get to you.
Lance: Oh, it got to me. But not in the way that he wanted it to. By going there Steve disrespected grandpa, he disrespected me, but most of all he disrespected every last member of our family. All that he did effectively by going there was run his mouth at speeds that he doesn’t have the talent to back up. Is he talented? Yes. But can he cope with a motivated and angry champion? I don’t believe that he can. I have come across far too many men like Steve in the span of my long career, much too arrogant for his own good. They say that the most pride comes right before the fall, and I can guarantee that he is about to take a fall. He is about to realize that he is strictly mortal and just like everyone else that has crossed my path, he is going to lose.
Matthew: Personally, I think that the thing that bothers me even more is the fact that he seems to be riding the wave because he has a victory over you.
Lance: Yes, he seems to be taking a huge source of his arrogance from that fact. But that’s fine with me to be honest. All that he needs to do is again put down the in ring tapes and look at the history books. Hell, he doesn’t even need to go back that far. All that he did was beat me on Collision. That is something that Dave Holland did before our title match, even Reckless Jack beat me in GWC before ours. I do not avoid the fact that there are two sides of me. One that comes out on weekly television shows, and one that is reserved for pay per view. Steve, when Picture Perfect starts, I will be in a whole new zone that you haven’t experienced before in your career. Your petty victory over me means absolutely nothing when that show starts, because you are not stepping into the ring with the same man that you did that night. There is a reason that people fear facing me on the big stage. Take a look Steve. You aren’t the only man that has beaten me on Collision. I have my share of losses here in nCw…BUT…there is one thing that stands out for everyone. When the World Title is on the line here in nCw and I am involved…I have one loss. One. Spike Kane was able to beat me for my title, and I got that one back. It’s a chosen few that can say that they have beaten me at a pay per view over ten years, and I just do not think that you have what it takes to be one of the chosen few.
~*~*~With those words our screens are once again filled with static and the music continues.~*~*~[/i]
Feel it turning your heart into stone
Feel it piercing your courageous soul
Beyond now - redemption
No one's gonna catch you when you fall
~*~*~The static slowly phases out again and we now see Lance sitting in the change room. Clearly his workout is over as he is covered in sweat and has a towel wrapped around his neck. Matthew is beside him on the bench as well.~*~*~[/i]
Matthew: I’d say that you still have it. Doesn’t matter how long that match goes, you have your stamina up still from that match with Brad. I think that you are ready physically for whatever those two boys throw at you. That is a very good thing seeing as they seem to be in agreement that they need to work together to take you out of the picture. Trent seems to have gotten Steve on board with that one.
Lance: Funny isn’t it? They say that title shots often tear friends apart, in this case it seems like we have got two back on the same page. They seem to think and agree now that the key to victory for them is to get me out of the way first. But they are really overlooking something in their unholy alliance. If they both work me over first and take me out of the picture, who gets to pin me? Or is that when they will turn on one another and fight it out amongst themselves? Again, I fall back on the determination that I have to remain as the champion tomorrow. There really is nothing that either of them can do to me that will take me out of the picture long enough for one them to destroy another world class athlete. So, while they beat on one another, all they are doing is giving me time to recuperate. I have been through hell and back so many times in my career, I know that neither of these guys has what it takes to keep me down while they try to incapacitate one another. They strictly are not that lucky. You know, really I tie this all back into Steve and his lack of confidence. He lacks the confidence to beat me and Steve at once, and more than that even he lacks the confidence to do the big move that could win him this match. He is soft Matt. He proved that the last time that he cut a promo. Years ago he injured a man and ended his career and he is still not past that. In my career I have ended the wrestling careers of three men now. I don’t hold remorse for any of the actions that led to that however, the reasoning is simple. When you come into this business, you know the risks. You know that every match might in fact be your last. All it takes is a miscue from yourself or someone else and you are finished. However, if that does not prove that he is soft, perhaps the fact that he has pity on me does. I do not understand why he feels sorry for me. Sure, I lost my father figure, sure I’ve had a rough couple of weeks, but for Christ sakes, do not pity me…that’s a mistake Trent…when you look down at me if you manage to get that far…I think you are going to once again doubt yourself, you are going to have second thoughts on pinning me because you will feel pity…pity is for the weak.
Matthew: That’s another thing though, I don’t know that the pity will win out in that situation…he has been talking about how winning the title is a dream of his.
Lance: Yes, a dream. Trent calls it a dream, Steve calls it his destiny, let’s be honest here. There is no such thing as predetermined destiny, and very few people get to actually live out their dreams. You see, there are two huge differences between myself and the two of them. The first is that they dream of being the champion, while I am the champion…the second is perhaps even more paramount. It is no secret that the three of us are all men that run off of emotion, but they wear there emotions too much and have much less control than I do. You see both of them are in the wrong state of mind. Trent pitying me, Steve trying to get into my head by doing something as emotional as visiting the grave. That shows me something, neither man understands me. Neither man knows how I work, they have the wrong mindsets and that will be there fall. Steve and Trent need to be ready to have their faith turn to doubt, and the doubt of me will once again turn to faith in me. Picture Perfect is nothing more to me than a chance to again prove that I am still the best, nothing more than an opportunity for me to once again take the dreams of two amazing stars in the palm of my hand and crush them.
~*~*~A final time the screen fades to static and we get the end of the song.~*~*~[/i]
Oh I see you crawl you can barely walk
With arms wide open you keep on begging for more
I've been there before knocking on the same door
It's when hate turns to love and love to hate
Faith to doubt and doubt to faith
~*~*~The static fades and the screen goes to black.~*~*~[/i]
~*~*~They say that every person in every profession has a special place that they go to when they need to do their best work. Businessmen have their office, musicians have their tour bus or the studio, and writers often find themselves at home when they are in nature or some other place that inspires what they are writing. For others there isn’t so much a place that they go physically but rather a place that they go to mentally. An emotional state, a state of mind or even a simple emotion; many people say that running on emotions is a tough thing to do, it often leads to more detrimental things than positive. That idea is up for debate however as some people, such as Lance Ryan, have made their living off of wearing their emotions on their sleeves and winning the big time matches in the big time events by doing so. Lance has always been the type of person that tells it exactly how it is all the time and holds nothing back. Some have always had a hard time following his though process as his words seem to change on a whim quite often and he can go from utter hatred for a man to respect on the turn of a dime, or vice versa. It has driven more than a few onlookers mad over the years but nobody can argue with results and results is something that Lance Ryan has to show for all the years that he has spent in the wrestling industry, up to and including the year that he has spent in nCw. Through thick and thin Lance has managed to get away from the footnotes and focus on the task at hand, he has gotten by the loss of his beloved girlfriend, he has gotten by the family torments that have tainted the past year, and much like all of those previous distractions he will put himself into a place where he will get past the loss of his father figure as well. When the time comes for the Main Event on Sunday nothing else will matter except for four things. Lance Ryan, Steve Awesome, Trent Helms and victory. In Lance’s mind there is no excuse for not going out and putting absolutely everything on the line. Much like Trent and Steve, Lance believes that every match should be wrestled like his last, and this match will be no different. Death, Insane Asylums, Suicidal Thoughts and temporary loss of control are all gone. As are Steve’s arrogant attitude and Trent’s self doubt. What it boils down to is quite simple actually. Three men will climb into a wrestling ring, all three will leave all inhibitions in the back, and one man will leave that hellacious match as the nCw World Champion.~*~*~
~*~*~Matthew and Jamie are sitting once again at the Ryan family dining table. They are in conversation already and we listen in.~*~*~[/i]
Jamie: I’m just a little bit concerned, you know? I mean, he was going on about how he wanted to retire to spend more time with Zell and I, and sure, I felt guilty, but now he has decided that he doesn’t want to retire and it’s basically boiling down to being because of grandpa’s death. Maybe he should at least take some time off you know? Get his head on straight.
Matthew: You need to understand your dad though, I have been with him and his career from the start, and the reality really is that he will be fine after he gets into the ring on Sunday. This will all be behind us soon.
Jamie: How can you be so sure? I mean, with the fact that he was contemplating suicide alone, doesn’t that worry you that this match could make things worse? I mean, if he drops the title, isn’t that going to make him worse off?
Matt: Nope. Not your brother. For the past, I’d say, two years it has really stopped being about the title that he holds. That’s not to say that he doesn’t enjoy being the World Champion, but in reality he simply believes that the title should be held by the best man in the company, and he is honestly proud when he gets beaten because it shows that the level of competition has gone up. When he gets into that ring he goes into a different place spiritually and he turns it up a couple of notches. He has always been able to put anything aside for the good of the business, and this Sunday will be no different. Win or lose, Lance will once again put on the match of his life and if he wins he will be happy and if he loses he will be happy.
Jamie: I can only hope that one day people talk about me in the ring the same way that they talk about dad. All that I ever here is how he is one of the best ion the history of the business, the way that he always saves his best for the big shows and how he, behind the scenes, is nothing but the consummate gentleman. All I have heard about with other guys is how their talent gets into their heads. Like it has with Steve Awesome, and they tend to become political animals and really will do anything to hold people back. Dad does that in character but I have never heard anyone accuse him of that outside of the ring, save for Reckless Jack.
Matthew: He is really a poster boy for what a true champion should be, not a lot of people have ever been like him, nor will their likely be many more in the future. It seems that the business is going that arrogant way of late, not a lot of guys out there with an even head on their shoulders. But back to what you said originally, I don’t think that you have anything to worry about, once he hears his entrance music, Lance is going to be fine. This past couple of weeks will be in his hindsight and grandpa will be officially gone but not forgotten. They say that the most important thing to do when someone close passes away is to get back into the daily grind and do your best to live on. That is what Lance will be effectively doing come Sunday.
Jamie: I hope that you are right, though I am sure that you are. You have been with him your entire life, I believe your take on things.
~*~*~Suddenly both men are jolted as the sound of Lance’s voice scares them.~*~*~[/i]\
Lance: It seems that my ears are burning. Is this all that the two of you have to do these days? Talk about how you think I am doing and talk about how you think I am going to be? Honestly, did I really put the scare into you both that much? You really need to always look past the actions and analyze the thoughts when it comes to me. Especially you Matt, you know how badly I reacted when Josh passed away, this was basically one of those instances of pre-emptive strike. I knew how deep I fell when that happened, and the last thing that I wanted to do was have another real scare like that. That’s why I did what I did. I knew that I have clearly the biggest match of my life coming up this Sunday, two of the top names in the business, and I knew where I needed my head to be. So essentially what I did was take myself to a place where I could clear my head, and without the distractions of the outside world get my head to exactly where it needed to be. I needed to deal with Grandpa’s passing in the only way that I knew how, and I did. I also needed to make sure that I could get all of my emotions into check because as we all know, I am a strange animal that gets by on strictly my emotional state. I needed to make sure that I was not heading into this match depressed and broken and in fact got myself into the place where I could be determined, driven and even pissed off. To earn this title it takes about 75% skill and 25% determination. Anyone can win their match on any given night, that’s why determination is important, you need to not look by anyone and you need to not take anyone lightly. I am in that place now, and there is in my mind, no way that Trent Helms or Steve Awesome can take what is mine.
Jamie: I’m sorry that I seem to be second guessing you, it’s just that as we all know, I haven’t been in your life for a terribly long time, and I don’t really know how you react to situations like this. I don’t think any son hopes to ever see the day when he sees his dad locked in a rubber room, especially when it was his choice. It’s damning to the father/son relationship. Now that I know that you are in the home stretch to, I didn’t want to interrupt your mindset and ask you, so I did the next best thing, I asked your brother.
Lance: I understand that son. But you need to really know two things. First of all, if Matt felt that there was any risk to me returning to the ring this Sunday, he would have called me out of the match whether I wanted it or not, that’s why he is my manager, and that’s why I love him. He always has known what is best for me, even when it’s not been clear for me. Secondly, never feel like you cannot approach me, especially since I have decided that it’s not time yet for me to leave the business. You need to know that there is nothing that you can say or do that will take me off my game. While wrestling is very important to me, your brother and you are more important. If you are worried, upset, or have a wrong idea about what is going on, ask me, I will always be there as your father now, and much more important is that than my career.
Jamie: Ok, awesome. I understand. Thanks dad.
Lance: No problem. Ok, moving on, I need to take a trip out today. I need to really get to the gym and make sure that I have my stamina up for tomorrow night, it’s been a hard week.
Matthew: No problem. I can take you over there if you like.
~*~*~Matthew gets up from the table and Lance picks up his duffel bag from the floor. Before he leaves he walks over to Jamie and shakes his hand.~*~*~[/i]
Lance: Thanks for being strong through all of this son. If it weren’t for you and your brother, I’m not sure that I wouldn’t be in a much worse place right now.
~*~*~The scene fades to static and we get some music for a moment.~*~*~
Oh I see your scars I know where they're from
So sensually carved and bleeding until you're dead and gone
I've seen it all before beauty and splendor torn
It's when heaven turns to black and hell to white
Right so wrong and wrong so right[/i]
~*~*~When the static fades back into a picture we see Lance and Matthew driving down the street in Lance’s black convertible. Both men have their sunglasses on and there is a silence in the car for a moment or two that is broken by Lance.~*~*~[/i]
Lance: This truly will be a true test for me bro. These two are amazing talents, all weaknesses and shortfalls aside, Trent Helms and Steve Awesome are indeed going to challenge my claim to being the best that nCw has to offer. Did you get a chance to see the last promos that that cut for our match? I mean, there really is a lot of intensity and a lot of dreaming being done by both men.
Matthew: Yeah, I saw them. Trent took the high road, and Steve took the low road. How did you cope with the fact that he went to visit the grave?
~*~*~We see anger instantly wash over the face of Lance and he takes of the shades. He looks straight ahead at the road and manages to hold back his anger and speak in a very slow and even voice.~*~*~[/i]
Lance: I am really torn on that you know? I mean, I cannot believe that he had the audacity to go to the grave and of all things, dedicate his victory to the memory of my grandfather. It didn’t bother me that he went there, the reality is that I was the one that brought family into this. I have always blurred the line between personal and professional. I feel that my fans deserve to know what is really going on in my life, and I have also believed that by doing so, I made sure that my family could be with me as much as possible. Thus, the reality is that should not shock anyone that Steve stooped to the low of going to see my grandpa. He was doing exactly what anyone in his position would do, looking for a way into my head. You see, like I said last time I had a camera on me, Steve’s weakness is his arrogance, but I am also starting to see something else in him…desperation. Steve Awesome has likely been studying tapes of me, preparing for this match, and I think he finally realized something. Even though he puts up a good front that he believes that he is better than me, he has clearly realized that he needs to try and do something to take me off my game. All that was, was simple mind games. Steve figured by showing up at the grave that he would get me so angry that it would help me lose direction in this match, and let’s be honest, that’s not what he has done. If anything he has made me even more focused. Steve may be studying tapes of me in the ring, but clearly he has lost focus on what I have done here, and how I react to personal attacks. It is no secret to anyone that I perform best on the main stage. Look at nCw, there really is only two gears for me when it comes to pay-per-view matches. High gear, and overdrive. Overdrive has been reserved for very special people, the people that I hold no respect for, the people that I could care less if they get hurt. Look what has happened in the past here, Spike Kane tried to get inside my head using my personal life, Reckless Jack tried to get into my head by taking the personal route as well…where are they now? They have the big “L” next to their names in the history books. You see, because I have always run off of emotions, I have always been at my best when I see a reason other than retaining to turn my gears up. This match was simply a match about three competitive guys until Steve went to the grave, now, he is in the crosshairs of a very dangerous weapon.
Matthew: I think that his actions were a huge slap in the face to you though. You cant tell me that it didn’t get to you.
Lance: Oh, it got to me. But not in the way that he wanted it to. By going there Steve disrespected grandpa, he disrespected me, but most of all he disrespected every last member of our family. All that he did effectively by going there was run his mouth at speeds that he doesn’t have the talent to back up. Is he talented? Yes. But can he cope with a motivated and angry champion? I don’t believe that he can. I have come across far too many men like Steve in the span of my long career, much too arrogant for his own good. They say that the most pride comes right before the fall, and I can guarantee that he is about to take a fall. He is about to realize that he is strictly mortal and just like everyone else that has crossed my path, he is going to lose.
Matthew: Personally, I think that the thing that bothers me even more is the fact that he seems to be riding the wave because he has a victory over you.
Lance: Yes, he seems to be taking a huge source of his arrogance from that fact. But that’s fine with me to be honest. All that he needs to do is again put down the in ring tapes and look at the history books. Hell, he doesn’t even need to go back that far. All that he did was beat me on Collision. That is something that Dave Holland did before our title match, even Reckless Jack beat me in GWC before ours. I do not avoid the fact that there are two sides of me. One that comes out on weekly television shows, and one that is reserved for pay per view. Steve, when Picture Perfect starts, I will be in a whole new zone that you haven’t experienced before in your career. Your petty victory over me means absolutely nothing when that show starts, because you are not stepping into the ring with the same man that you did that night. There is a reason that people fear facing me on the big stage. Take a look Steve. You aren’t the only man that has beaten me on Collision. I have my share of losses here in nCw…BUT…there is one thing that stands out for everyone. When the World Title is on the line here in nCw and I am involved…I have one loss. One. Spike Kane was able to beat me for my title, and I got that one back. It’s a chosen few that can say that they have beaten me at a pay per view over ten years, and I just do not think that you have what it takes to be one of the chosen few.
~*~*~With those words our screens are once again filled with static and the music continues.~*~*~[/i]
Feel it turning your heart into stone
Feel it piercing your courageous soul
Beyond now - redemption
No one's gonna catch you when you fall
~*~*~The static slowly phases out again and we now see Lance sitting in the change room. Clearly his workout is over as he is covered in sweat and has a towel wrapped around his neck. Matthew is beside him on the bench as well.~*~*~[/i]
Matthew: I’d say that you still have it. Doesn’t matter how long that match goes, you have your stamina up still from that match with Brad. I think that you are ready physically for whatever those two boys throw at you. That is a very good thing seeing as they seem to be in agreement that they need to work together to take you out of the picture. Trent seems to have gotten Steve on board with that one.
Lance: Funny isn’t it? They say that title shots often tear friends apart, in this case it seems like we have got two back on the same page. They seem to think and agree now that the key to victory for them is to get me out of the way first. But they are really overlooking something in their unholy alliance. If they both work me over first and take me out of the picture, who gets to pin me? Or is that when they will turn on one another and fight it out amongst themselves? Again, I fall back on the determination that I have to remain as the champion tomorrow. There really is nothing that either of them can do to me that will take me out of the picture long enough for one them to destroy another world class athlete. So, while they beat on one another, all they are doing is giving me time to recuperate. I have been through hell and back so many times in my career, I know that neither of these guys has what it takes to keep me down while they try to incapacitate one another. They strictly are not that lucky. You know, really I tie this all back into Steve and his lack of confidence. He lacks the confidence to beat me and Steve at once, and more than that even he lacks the confidence to do the big move that could win him this match. He is soft Matt. He proved that the last time that he cut a promo. Years ago he injured a man and ended his career and he is still not past that. In my career I have ended the wrestling careers of three men now. I don’t hold remorse for any of the actions that led to that however, the reasoning is simple. When you come into this business, you know the risks. You know that every match might in fact be your last. All it takes is a miscue from yourself or someone else and you are finished. However, if that does not prove that he is soft, perhaps the fact that he has pity on me does. I do not understand why he feels sorry for me. Sure, I lost my father figure, sure I’ve had a rough couple of weeks, but for Christ sakes, do not pity me…that’s a mistake Trent…when you look down at me if you manage to get that far…I think you are going to once again doubt yourself, you are going to have second thoughts on pinning me because you will feel pity…pity is for the weak.
Matthew: That’s another thing though, I don’t know that the pity will win out in that situation…he has been talking about how winning the title is a dream of his.
Lance: Yes, a dream. Trent calls it a dream, Steve calls it his destiny, let’s be honest here. There is no such thing as predetermined destiny, and very few people get to actually live out their dreams. You see, there are two huge differences between myself and the two of them. The first is that they dream of being the champion, while I am the champion…the second is perhaps even more paramount. It is no secret that the three of us are all men that run off of emotion, but they wear there emotions too much and have much less control than I do. You see both of them are in the wrong state of mind. Trent pitying me, Steve trying to get into my head by doing something as emotional as visiting the grave. That shows me something, neither man understands me. Neither man knows how I work, they have the wrong mindsets and that will be there fall. Steve and Trent need to be ready to have their faith turn to doubt, and the doubt of me will once again turn to faith in me. Picture Perfect is nothing more to me than a chance to again prove that I am still the best, nothing more than an opportunity for me to once again take the dreams of two amazing stars in the palm of my hand and crush them.
~*~*~A final time the screen fades to static and we get the end of the song.~*~*~[/i]
Oh I see you crawl you can barely walk
With arms wide open you keep on begging for more
I've been there before knocking on the same door
It's when hate turns to love and love to hate
Faith to doubt and doubt to faith
~*~*~The static fades and the screen goes to black.~*~*~[/i]