Post by Gunner Hughes on Dec 22, 2012 23:55:41 GMT -5
The scene opens up, and a slow motion highlight clip of the first encounter between Gunner Hughes and Mitch Thompson starts playing. It was the very first time that Gunner Hughes wrestled in the WBSW, and as the clip shows him locking Mitch into his Signature submission hold the Full Metal Jacket, Gunner’s voice begins narrating.
“They say that every great journey begins with a single step.”
The clip then cuts to Gunner Hughes versus Mia Poe, and again he gets the submission finish. The highlight then jumps to him successfully fighting off an attack by the Fraggles afterwards. Gunner’s voice continues to narrate.
“And as I took that single step into the WBSW to begin my career as a professional wrestler in this organization, I never imagined the places where that road would take me.”
The footage then cuts to Gunner Hughes versus Judas Fraggle. Gunner hits Fraggle with his Finishing move the Buckshot and scores the pinfall, and his voice continues.
“The journey has never been easy.”
The next meeting between Gunner Hughes and Mitch Thompson is shown, and after afew clips of Gunner and Mitch going back and forth, Gunner is shown hitting Thompson with the Buckshot and getting another victory over him.
“And my opponents have been relentless.”
Footage of the WBSW Championship match at UWL’s Wrestlefest event is shown. An exhausted Gunner appears to barely manage to get his foot up to hit Hale Collins with the Buckshot and score the pinfall victory to become the next WBSW Champion. He’s seen celebrating on the turnbuckle with the title belt.
“But my stubbornness to stay the course so far has paid off with rewards.”
Gunner is then seen taking on John Tucker, and after a few highlights Gunner hits him with the Buckshot and gets the win.
“My skills are constantly being tested”
The footage switches to highlights of Gunner and Steven Gold going back and forth in a grueling battle, and then to Gunner hitting Gold with his trademark Buckshot finisher and getting the pinfall.
“And the tests are becoming more and more challenging.”
Gunner is then seen in a match with special guest Eric Loomis. The highlights show Gunner and Eric exchanging momentum back and forth, but again Gunner is seen ending the match with his trademark boot to the face.
“But in the end I must rise to accept every one of those tests.”
Gunner is then seen celebrating in the middle of the ring with his title belt, and the fans are all on their feet cheering.
“Because after all…..I am the god damned WBSW Champion, and that’s what a champion does!”
The screen fades to black and Gunner is heard laughing. After a few moments, the view slowly zooms out and reveals that the source of the footage was a large plasma screen television mounted on a wall above a large desk. Gunner Hughes is seen sitting behind the desk with his feet up on a file cabinet, and he has a remote in his hand pointing at the screen, appearing to have just shut it off. He’s dressed in his street clothes, which consist of a pair of faded jeans, a leather jacket, and an black and orange skull cap, and he also has the WBSW Championship folded up on the desk next to him. As the view continues to zoom out, the rest of the dark office looking room is revealed. Along with the desk and file cabinet, a printer and other office equipment are seen, and on the side wall sits a leather couch, along with a big bay window set into the wall. The view finishing zooming out, and Gunner sets the remote down on the desk and takes his feet down from the file cabinet. He then turns in his chair to face the camera and leans forward to folds his hands together, gazing into the camera lens with his usual stern and confident smile as he begins speaking.
Gunner: “Hello everybody….and welcome to my newest investment.”
He leans back in his chair and opens his arms up, motions to his surroundings.
Gunner: “I know it just looks like an average office, but trust me…..it’s much more than that. This is actually just one room inside a large three story building that I just bought and am in the process of renovating.”
He points towards the large bay window.
Gunner: “Through that window and downstairs an entire new world is being created for the people of this town, a place where they can come to escape the everyday grind of their lives and enjoy a cocktail while they put their feet up. I have spent many of my years working as security in several different highly successful night clubs, and I have the hands on knowledge to recreate that atmosphere.”
The view then zooms on in him a bit and the smile disappears, replaced by an intense look in his eyes.
Gunner: “But of course, that’s a project that I need to place on the back burner for a few days, because as you WBSW fans already know….I have big plans this weekend to defend my WBSW Championship.”
He smiles and nods, maintaining his lock on the camera.
Gunner: “Even though I come from a different background than most of the other WBSW superstars, a lot of us are still cut from the same cloth. We have a desire to compete that lives inside us, and regardless of whether we came from the streets of the Bronx or the woods of Montana….we all have share that same desire. There’s nothing more satisfying than the feeling that you get when that bell rings and the adrenaline starts to flow through your body. When the roar of the fans chanting your name echoes throughout the arena as you wage war inside the squared circle. It’s a feeling that I’ve grown very fond of in my days in the WBSW, and it’s one of the main reasons why I walk out to that ring and perform at the best of my abilities. We all have things that motivate us to succeed inside the WBSW, whether it’s a thirst for money, for fame, to prove something to the world, or even just to prove something to ourselves. But on occasion there are times when some of us are motivated by more than this, times when we are forced to cross that line that we always try to stay clear of…..the one that separates us from our sinister nature. Lately I have been finding it easier and easier to cross that line when provoked, and I sometimes wonder just how far past I will go the next time.”
The camera zooms in on Gunner’s face some more as an evil looking grin forms across his lips.
Gunner: “Steven Gold, the last time we were face to face….you and your lackeys did your work well, and you made the statement that you were looking to make. I knew that you were passionate about becoming the champion, and I’ll be honest, the next day I was a little upset with myself for not seeing that assault coming. But like I said, sometimes we’re pushed past that line….past the point of no return and we act out of passion. I knew that one way or another swinging that title belt at you was going to be a gamble. I figured I could get suspended, maybe lose some fans, or even get assaulted by some WBSW superstars who actually wanted to join your cause. But I also knew that it would add fuel to this fire that we’re already dancing in at Holiday Fear, so I rolled the dice and in the end I crapped out. I guess that’s why people say you shouldn’t gamble.”
He laughs and leans back in his chair again as he crosses his arms.
Gunner: “All week I have been listening to the fan’s reaction to this mess, with a lot of them demanding the immediate suspension of you and the Northwest Express. They say that you guys are thugs, and that you’re all are a clear danger to our roster. But there has also been some opinions on the opposite side….opinions that say that I might have gotten what I asked for by attacking you with my title belt Steven.”
He nods his head and looks up as he appears to be analyzing. He then shrugs as he looks forward again.
Gunner: “Maybe those fans are right? Maybe I did get what I was asking for. Because you see…..ever since I became a WBSW superstar, I’ve been looking for a good fight. Sometimes when I’m walking through the hallway backstage during a show, I just want to slap some of these guys in the head as I walk by. And not because I have a personal problem with any of them, but I just want to make sure they still have a pulse. I’ve seen so many so called superstars come and go in my short stint in this company, and I just shake my head at each and every one of them. It just seems to me that for a lot of these guys, as soon as the going gets tough they tuck their tail between their legs and they head for the hills. So maybe last week was me getting what I wanted.”
He turns and gets up out of his chair, and the camera follows him as he walks to the side of the room. He stops and looks out through the big bay window, and as the view moves behind his shoulder the large downstairs area of the building can be seen through the window. Several workers are seen in action downstairs, framing in walls and redoing the floor. A large stage is seen in the back corner, and a team of workers is also seen attending to that area as well. Gunner nods towards the action as he continues on.
Gunner: “Those men down there working, they may not know it, but they’re helping to lay the foundation for one of the greatest establishments that this city has ever seen. And much like this nightclub, my WBSW career needs that same type of foundation. I may be the WBSW Champion, but a champion is only as good as the people he defends it against. Steven Gold, Ricky Moses and Billy Sandow…the fans are correct in saying that you three are thugs. But a suspension from the WBSW?”
He shakes his head and laughs.
Gunner: “That would just be too way easy. Besides, I’ll be honest….removing you from the WBSW roster would probably hurt the WBSW more than it would help it. I’ll be the first to admit that the WBSW actually needs guys like you Steven. Guys who are ready to go out and grab hold of the prize, and guys who will get right back up when they are knocked down. Up until this point, my opponents were broken men before they even stepped inside the ring. I got into each and every one of their heads, and I had them mentally defeated before they even strapped up their wrestling boots. But you Steven, you don’t make it quite as easy do you? You have skills, and you know it….and you’re not afraid to let other people know it too. I respect that about you Steven. You can talk the talk, I will give you that much for sure….but don’t forget what happened the first time we met inside that ring.”
Gunner laughs again.
Gunner: “Actually what am I even saying? Of course you haven’t forgotten….because that’s all you’ve talked about ever since. A cheap shot? Isn’t that what you called it? We were on a time out or something and I was supposed to wait until you were ready? Is that it?”
He continues laughing and turns to face the camera, leaning against the wall as he continues.
Gunner: “Come on Steven, we both know how it works in professional wrestling. Two people step into that ring, but only one can step out a winner. It doesn’t matter how it happens, all that matters is that it happened. If it would have been me on the losing end of that fight, I would have accepted that loss like a man and moved on. The important part was that we were both part of a great match…perhaps the greatest match that the fans in the WBSW have ever seen in this company. Don’t ruin that for yourself by creating an illusion that you got cheated out of that win, because the truth is Steven, there’s only one person to blame for that loss…and that’s yourself. You don’t ever turn your back on Gunner Hughes inside that ring.”
He pauses and looks back out the window and into the downstairs again. The view pans around and workers are seen carrying in more random items and equipment. A bar top, a large aquarium, rolls of carpet, drywall….the convoy is non-stop, and Gunner nods in approval as he continues on.
Gunner: “When you first arrived in the WBSW Steven, I looked at you and I saw a young punk who was just looking for a small wrestling promotion where he could get the five minutes of fame that he couldn’t get elsewhere. I mean the fake title belt, the big superstar act, even going so far as to try to steal my wrestling manager? It really was like something out of a weird comic book. But after all of these little games that you were playing failed, and you ended up walking away from our fight disappointed just as everybody else who has gotten in my way has, you did something that nobody else in this company has done yet…..you bounced right back and you asked for more. You proved that you are much more than that young punk who is just looking for his five minutes of fame.…you’re a young punk actually looking to rule the WBSW.”
Gunner turns away from the window and walks back over to the desk. He picks up the WBSW Championship and unfolds it, then turns back to face the camera, holding the title belt out in front of him.
Gunner: “Well Steven Gold….if you and your goons want to rule the WBSW, this right here is your crown. The problem is, you have to go through me in order to get it. This championship belt, to me this is something that signifies all of the battles that I’ve endured since becoming a WBSW wrestler. It’s a daily reminder to me that I have to always continue to improve in order to remain a predator in this game. And it’s also a symbol of what the WBSW is all about, and what we have to offer the rest of the world. That’s what this title belt means to me, and that’s why I will walk through hell and back this weekend in order to keep it and make sure that it represents the WBSW with honor.”
He drapes the title belt over his shoulder, then continues.
Gunner: “But what does this match mean for you Steven? Do you simply want to become the WBSW Champion? Or are there other reasons you want to win this match so bad? Over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten a good chance to see what kind of man you really are. We all have egos Steven, but yours has gotten the better of you. Losing is something that you clearly don’t take very well, and I’d imagine that it’s difficult for somebody like you to accept that I’ve already beaten you once before. I’m sure that every morning when you look in the mirror, it eats away at you knowing that one second is all it would have taken for it to it end the other way. One second.…you could have avoided the Buckshot and capitalized on the counter attack, and we’d be having a completely different type of conversation right now. But it didn’t go your way, and now you have a chance to redeem yourself. So is that the reason you’ll be marching down to the ring this weekend? For retribution? Or do you really want to be the WBSW champion as much as I do?”
He pauses for a couple seconds second and stares into the camera, almost as if he’s waiting for Gold to jump out of the lens and answer him right then and there. After a few moments he start to walk forward and the camera turns as he walks past it and to the door leading out of the room and into a hallway. The view follows him as he heads down the hallway towards an elevator door, and he continues on.
Gunner: “Whatever your reasons may be Steven, just know that I am walking into this fight with a clear understanding on what I hope to achieve. Because you see, I want much more than just a title defense out of this match, I want to make history. I want to be remembered as a great champion in the WBSW for years to come. I know that it’s fun to be the villain. The Green Goblin, The Joker, Lex Luthor….they all make it look so damned glamorous, just like you try to do Steven.”
He arrives at the elevator and hits a button on the wall, and the doors slide open. He steps inside and hits the first floor button, then he turns and leans against the back wall of the elevator as the camera follows him inside. The view bounces a little as the elevator starts to move.
Gunner: “But you see, when the story ends…..nobody remembers the villains. Grandfathers don’t tell their families stories of great villains who cheated their way to success, they tell stories of true champions who rose through adversity and thwarted these villains to become legends themselves. I’m a long way from achieving that sort of status in my wrestling career, but now that my eyes have been recently opened for me I do see the doorways that I need to walk through if I want to get there. And that first doorway Steven, is defeating you and not only retaining my WBSW Championship, but also cementing my status as the top wrestler in the WBSW.”
The elevator doors slide back open and Gunner steps out into another hallway, followed by the camera. He begins to walk down that hallway as he continues on.
Gunner: “This week Steven, you dressed yourself in gold and Armani and you made an appearance at our holiday fan fest and sang some Christmas carols for the fans, and I have to say they were pretty damned good. I mean how you took real Christmas songs and added your own words….very clever. It’s too bad that you can’t take a real fighter and have him wrestle this match for you this weekend. You do have wrestling skills, we both know that, but just as our last match was…this match is going to be a straight up fight, not a wrestling match. No rules? I can win the fight anywhere in the building? I mean it almost sounds like this match was tailor made just for me.”
He arrives at a set of double doors and pushes his way through them. The camera follwos him through as well and out into the main floor of the future night club. The view pans around a bit and shows the workers again setting up the stage, then it fixes on Gunner again as he heads over towards the bar area and turns back around.
Gunner: “Just as I’m doing here to this old nightclub, I’m looking to breathe life into the WBSW. Walking around as it’s champion and showing the rest of the wrestling world what we can do is only one way I’m trying to do that. I’m in the process of trying to arrange an invitational event hosted by the WBSW, I’m scouting new talent and pointing prospect in the direction of Wilkes Barre, and many more things. But I have to also give you credit Steven….although it’s probably for different reasons, you seem to by trying to do the same thing too. You’re trying to hand over your imaginary title belts to the WBSW so they can actually have some value, and you also brought in two of your buddies; “BadAss” Billy Sandow and “Ravishing” Ricky Moses. By the way, I think it’s cute how you three all have little nicknames in front of your real names, it makes you seem like a real gang back when gangs were actually cool. Anyway, you brought these guys in and formed the EIW, or maybe you were formed before you came into the WBSW, I’m not really sure since nobody’s ever heard of you including myself. In any case, you brought these guys in, you encouraged them to go for the tag team title belts, and now the rest of the tag team division is going to have to take notice. Regardless of what beef we have, I have to respect that you did that. But the thing is Steven, you brought these guys in as your hand puppets, and you have your arm up both of their asses, controlling their every move. What’s going to happen when they find out that you will never let either one of them share your spotlight? Do you think they’ll be happy to act as nothing but your sidekicks for the rest of their days in the WBSW?”
He laughs.
Gunner: “And what’s going to happen Steven, when they find out that you fed them to the wolves by sending them after me on the last episode of WBSW Live? That chump Billy Sandow….do you think he’s still going to look up to you as a leader after I give him a concussion with my size 25 boot? And Ricky Moses…..what do you imagine he’ll think when I make that fake story you told about me a reality and I break his damned arm for real? These guys seem to have a bright future in the WBSW, but as long as they have you pulling the strings for them, they are going to end up as another victim….just as you will. And after this match when they see their leader lose to the WBSW Champion for the second time, maybe they’ll realize that and smarten up.”
He finishes checking out the bar area, then he starts to head over to the area of the room where the stage appears to be just being completed as he continues on.
Gunner: “Steven, there’s a reason that not a single superstar on the WBSW roster came forward to join you in the EIW. You are no champion, and this weekend I will prove that to you just like I did the first time we met.”
Gunner stops at the stage where a worker is waving him over. The man says a few words to him and hands him a clipboard, and after checking the stage out Gunner signs the clipboard. He nods at the man and they shake hands, then he and the rest of his crew begin to clear out. The view zooms in on the new stage floor for a few moments, and Gunner smiles with approval as he checks it out. He then refocuses back on the task at hand
Gunner: “This match this weekend, this no disqualification match…..this will be the first time I get to fight in a match with no rules what so ever. Up until this point in my short WBSW career, there has always been that line that I described earlier….and I have done my best to stay on the right side of that line as much as possible. But this weekend that line has been erased for me thanks to the WBSW fans, so I will give them want they want to see and I will not disappoint them. They want to see me take Steven Gold to that next level, and that’s what I will do. They want to see me use him as a sacrificial lamb to solidify my WBSW status, and that’s what I will do. But most importantly…”
The view zooms in his face.
Gunner: “….they want to see me raise the god damned roof in the Mohegan Sun Arena this weekend put on the greatest show the WBSW has ever seen. Because after all…
He gets mean look on his face as he removes the WBSW Championship belt from his shoulder and holds it up as he growls into the camera.
Gunner: “That’s what a champion does!”
“They say that every great journey begins with a single step.”
The clip then cuts to Gunner Hughes versus Mia Poe, and again he gets the submission finish. The highlight then jumps to him successfully fighting off an attack by the Fraggles afterwards. Gunner’s voice continues to narrate.
“And as I took that single step into the WBSW to begin my career as a professional wrestler in this organization, I never imagined the places where that road would take me.”
The footage then cuts to Gunner Hughes versus Judas Fraggle. Gunner hits Fraggle with his Finishing move the Buckshot and scores the pinfall, and his voice continues.
“The journey has never been easy.”
The next meeting between Gunner Hughes and Mitch Thompson is shown, and after afew clips of Gunner and Mitch going back and forth, Gunner is shown hitting Thompson with the Buckshot and getting another victory over him.
“And my opponents have been relentless.”
Footage of the WBSW Championship match at UWL’s Wrestlefest event is shown. An exhausted Gunner appears to barely manage to get his foot up to hit Hale Collins with the Buckshot and score the pinfall victory to become the next WBSW Champion. He’s seen celebrating on the turnbuckle with the title belt.
“But my stubbornness to stay the course so far has paid off with rewards.”
Gunner is then seen taking on John Tucker, and after a few highlights Gunner hits him with the Buckshot and gets the win.
“My skills are constantly being tested”
The footage switches to highlights of Gunner and Steven Gold going back and forth in a grueling battle, and then to Gunner hitting Gold with his trademark Buckshot finisher and getting the pinfall.
“And the tests are becoming more and more challenging.”
Gunner is then seen in a match with special guest Eric Loomis. The highlights show Gunner and Eric exchanging momentum back and forth, but again Gunner is seen ending the match with his trademark boot to the face.
“But in the end I must rise to accept every one of those tests.”
Gunner is then seen celebrating in the middle of the ring with his title belt, and the fans are all on their feet cheering.
“Because after all…..I am the god damned WBSW Champion, and that’s what a champion does!”
The screen fades to black and Gunner is heard laughing. After a few moments, the view slowly zooms out and reveals that the source of the footage was a large plasma screen television mounted on a wall above a large desk. Gunner Hughes is seen sitting behind the desk with his feet up on a file cabinet, and he has a remote in his hand pointing at the screen, appearing to have just shut it off. He’s dressed in his street clothes, which consist of a pair of faded jeans, a leather jacket, and an black and orange skull cap, and he also has the WBSW Championship folded up on the desk next to him. As the view continues to zoom out, the rest of the dark office looking room is revealed. Along with the desk and file cabinet, a printer and other office equipment are seen, and on the side wall sits a leather couch, along with a big bay window set into the wall. The view finishing zooming out, and Gunner sets the remote down on the desk and takes his feet down from the file cabinet. He then turns in his chair to face the camera and leans forward to folds his hands together, gazing into the camera lens with his usual stern and confident smile as he begins speaking.
Gunner: “Hello everybody….and welcome to my newest investment.”
He leans back in his chair and opens his arms up, motions to his surroundings.
Gunner: “I know it just looks like an average office, but trust me…..it’s much more than that. This is actually just one room inside a large three story building that I just bought and am in the process of renovating.”
He points towards the large bay window.
Gunner: “Through that window and downstairs an entire new world is being created for the people of this town, a place where they can come to escape the everyday grind of their lives and enjoy a cocktail while they put their feet up. I have spent many of my years working as security in several different highly successful night clubs, and I have the hands on knowledge to recreate that atmosphere.”
The view then zooms on in him a bit and the smile disappears, replaced by an intense look in his eyes.
Gunner: “But of course, that’s a project that I need to place on the back burner for a few days, because as you WBSW fans already know….I have big plans this weekend to defend my WBSW Championship.”
He smiles and nods, maintaining his lock on the camera.
Gunner: “Even though I come from a different background than most of the other WBSW superstars, a lot of us are still cut from the same cloth. We have a desire to compete that lives inside us, and regardless of whether we came from the streets of the Bronx or the woods of Montana….we all have share that same desire. There’s nothing more satisfying than the feeling that you get when that bell rings and the adrenaline starts to flow through your body. When the roar of the fans chanting your name echoes throughout the arena as you wage war inside the squared circle. It’s a feeling that I’ve grown very fond of in my days in the WBSW, and it’s one of the main reasons why I walk out to that ring and perform at the best of my abilities. We all have things that motivate us to succeed inside the WBSW, whether it’s a thirst for money, for fame, to prove something to the world, or even just to prove something to ourselves. But on occasion there are times when some of us are motivated by more than this, times when we are forced to cross that line that we always try to stay clear of…..the one that separates us from our sinister nature. Lately I have been finding it easier and easier to cross that line when provoked, and I sometimes wonder just how far past I will go the next time.”
The camera zooms in on Gunner’s face some more as an evil looking grin forms across his lips.
Gunner: “Steven Gold, the last time we were face to face….you and your lackeys did your work well, and you made the statement that you were looking to make. I knew that you were passionate about becoming the champion, and I’ll be honest, the next day I was a little upset with myself for not seeing that assault coming. But like I said, sometimes we’re pushed past that line….past the point of no return and we act out of passion. I knew that one way or another swinging that title belt at you was going to be a gamble. I figured I could get suspended, maybe lose some fans, or even get assaulted by some WBSW superstars who actually wanted to join your cause. But I also knew that it would add fuel to this fire that we’re already dancing in at Holiday Fear, so I rolled the dice and in the end I crapped out. I guess that’s why people say you shouldn’t gamble.”
He laughs and leans back in his chair again as he crosses his arms.
Gunner: “All week I have been listening to the fan’s reaction to this mess, with a lot of them demanding the immediate suspension of you and the Northwest Express. They say that you guys are thugs, and that you’re all are a clear danger to our roster. But there has also been some opinions on the opposite side….opinions that say that I might have gotten what I asked for by attacking you with my title belt Steven.”
He nods his head and looks up as he appears to be analyzing. He then shrugs as he looks forward again.
Gunner: “Maybe those fans are right? Maybe I did get what I was asking for. Because you see…..ever since I became a WBSW superstar, I’ve been looking for a good fight. Sometimes when I’m walking through the hallway backstage during a show, I just want to slap some of these guys in the head as I walk by. And not because I have a personal problem with any of them, but I just want to make sure they still have a pulse. I’ve seen so many so called superstars come and go in my short stint in this company, and I just shake my head at each and every one of them. It just seems to me that for a lot of these guys, as soon as the going gets tough they tuck their tail between their legs and they head for the hills. So maybe last week was me getting what I wanted.”
He turns and gets up out of his chair, and the camera follows him as he walks to the side of the room. He stops and looks out through the big bay window, and as the view moves behind his shoulder the large downstairs area of the building can be seen through the window. Several workers are seen in action downstairs, framing in walls and redoing the floor. A large stage is seen in the back corner, and a team of workers is also seen attending to that area as well. Gunner nods towards the action as he continues on.
Gunner: “Those men down there working, they may not know it, but they’re helping to lay the foundation for one of the greatest establishments that this city has ever seen. And much like this nightclub, my WBSW career needs that same type of foundation. I may be the WBSW Champion, but a champion is only as good as the people he defends it against. Steven Gold, Ricky Moses and Billy Sandow…the fans are correct in saying that you three are thugs. But a suspension from the WBSW?”
He shakes his head and laughs.
Gunner: “That would just be too way easy. Besides, I’ll be honest….removing you from the WBSW roster would probably hurt the WBSW more than it would help it. I’ll be the first to admit that the WBSW actually needs guys like you Steven. Guys who are ready to go out and grab hold of the prize, and guys who will get right back up when they are knocked down. Up until this point, my opponents were broken men before they even stepped inside the ring. I got into each and every one of their heads, and I had them mentally defeated before they even strapped up their wrestling boots. But you Steven, you don’t make it quite as easy do you? You have skills, and you know it….and you’re not afraid to let other people know it too. I respect that about you Steven. You can talk the talk, I will give you that much for sure….but don’t forget what happened the first time we met inside that ring.”
Gunner laughs again.
Gunner: “Actually what am I even saying? Of course you haven’t forgotten….because that’s all you’ve talked about ever since. A cheap shot? Isn’t that what you called it? We were on a time out or something and I was supposed to wait until you were ready? Is that it?”
He continues laughing and turns to face the camera, leaning against the wall as he continues.
Gunner: “Come on Steven, we both know how it works in professional wrestling. Two people step into that ring, but only one can step out a winner. It doesn’t matter how it happens, all that matters is that it happened. If it would have been me on the losing end of that fight, I would have accepted that loss like a man and moved on. The important part was that we were both part of a great match…perhaps the greatest match that the fans in the WBSW have ever seen in this company. Don’t ruin that for yourself by creating an illusion that you got cheated out of that win, because the truth is Steven, there’s only one person to blame for that loss…and that’s yourself. You don’t ever turn your back on Gunner Hughes inside that ring.”
He pauses and looks back out the window and into the downstairs again. The view pans around and workers are seen carrying in more random items and equipment. A bar top, a large aquarium, rolls of carpet, drywall….the convoy is non-stop, and Gunner nods in approval as he continues on.
Gunner: “When you first arrived in the WBSW Steven, I looked at you and I saw a young punk who was just looking for a small wrestling promotion where he could get the five minutes of fame that he couldn’t get elsewhere. I mean the fake title belt, the big superstar act, even going so far as to try to steal my wrestling manager? It really was like something out of a weird comic book. But after all of these little games that you were playing failed, and you ended up walking away from our fight disappointed just as everybody else who has gotten in my way has, you did something that nobody else in this company has done yet…..you bounced right back and you asked for more. You proved that you are much more than that young punk who is just looking for his five minutes of fame.…you’re a young punk actually looking to rule the WBSW.”
Gunner turns away from the window and walks back over to the desk. He picks up the WBSW Championship and unfolds it, then turns back to face the camera, holding the title belt out in front of him.
Gunner: “Well Steven Gold….if you and your goons want to rule the WBSW, this right here is your crown. The problem is, you have to go through me in order to get it. This championship belt, to me this is something that signifies all of the battles that I’ve endured since becoming a WBSW wrestler. It’s a daily reminder to me that I have to always continue to improve in order to remain a predator in this game. And it’s also a symbol of what the WBSW is all about, and what we have to offer the rest of the world. That’s what this title belt means to me, and that’s why I will walk through hell and back this weekend in order to keep it and make sure that it represents the WBSW with honor.”
He drapes the title belt over his shoulder, then continues.
Gunner: “But what does this match mean for you Steven? Do you simply want to become the WBSW Champion? Or are there other reasons you want to win this match so bad? Over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten a good chance to see what kind of man you really are. We all have egos Steven, but yours has gotten the better of you. Losing is something that you clearly don’t take very well, and I’d imagine that it’s difficult for somebody like you to accept that I’ve already beaten you once before. I’m sure that every morning when you look in the mirror, it eats away at you knowing that one second is all it would have taken for it to it end the other way. One second.…you could have avoided the Buckshot and capitalized on the counter attack, and we’d be having a completely different type of conversation right now. But it didn’t go your way, and now you have a chance to redeem yourself. So is that the reason you’ll be marching down to the ring this weekend? For retribution? Or do you really want to be the WBSW champion as much as I do?”
He pauses for a couple seconds second and stares into the camera, almost as if he’s waiting for Gold to jump out of the lens and answer him right then and there. After a few moments he start to walk forward and the camera turns as he walks past it and to the door leading out of the room and into a hallway. The view follows him as he heads down the hallway towards an elevator door, and he continues on.
Gunner: “Whatever your reasons may be Steven, just know that I am walking into this fight with a clear understanding on what I hope to achieve. Because you see, I want much more than just a title defense out of this match, I want to make history. I want to be remembered as a great champion in the WBSW for years to come. I know that it’s fun to be the villain. The Green Goblin, The Joker, Lex Luthor….they all make it look so damned glamorous, just like you try to do Steven.”
He arrives at the elevator and hits a button on the wall, and the doors slide open. He steps inside and hits the first floor button, then he turns and leans against the back wall of the elevator as the camera follows him inside. The view bounces a little as the elevator starts to move.
Gunner: “But you see, when the story ends…..nobody remembers the villains. Grandfathers don’t tell their families stories of great villains who cheated their way to success, they tell stories of true champions who rose through adversity and thwarted these villains to become legends themselves. I’m a long way from achieving that sort of status in my wrestling career, but now that my eyes have been recently opened for me I do see the doorways that I need to walk through if I want to get there. And that first doorway Steven, is defeating you and not only retaining my WBSW Championship, but also cementing my status as the top wrestler in the WBSW.”
The elevator doors slide back open and Gunner steps out into another hallway, followed by the camera. He begins to walk down that hallway as he continues on.
Gunner: “This week Steven, you dressed yourself in gold and Armani and you made an appearance at our holiday fan fest and sang some Christmas carols for the fans, and I have to say they were pretty damned good. I mean how you took real Christmas songs and added your own words….very clever. It’s too bad that you can’t take a real fighter and have him wrestle this match for you this weekend. You do have wrestling skills, we both know that, but just as our last match was…this match is going to be a straight up fight, not a wrestling match. No rules? I can win the fight anywhere in the building? I mean it almost sounds like this match was tailor made just for me.”
He arrives at a set of double doors and pushes his way through them. The camera follwos him through as well and out into the main floor of the future night club. The view pans around a bit and shows the workers again setting up the stage, then it fixes on Gunner again as he heads over towards the bar area and turns back around.
Gunner: “Just as I’m doing here to this old nightclub, I’m looking to breathe life into the WBSW. Walking around as it’s champion and showing the rest of the wrestling world what we can do is only one way I’m trying to do that. I’m in the process of trying to arrange an invitational event hosted by the WBSW, I’m scouting new talent and pointing prospect in the direction of Wilkes Barre, and many more things. But I have to also give you credit Steven….although it’s probably for different reasons, you seem to by trying to do the same thing too. You’re trying to hand over your imaginary title belts to the WBSW so they can actually have some value, and you also brought in two of your buddies; “BadAss” Billy Sandow and “Ravishing” Ricky Moses. By the way, I think it’s cute how you three all have little nicknames in front of your real names, it makes you seem like a real gang back when gangs were actually cool. Anyway, you brought these guys in and formed the EIW, or maybe you were formed before you came into the WBSW, I’m not really sure since nobody’s ever heard of you including myself. In any case, you brought these guys in, you encouraged them to go for the tag team title belts, and now the rest of the tag team division is going to have to take notice. Regardless of what beef we have, I have to respect that you did that. But the thing is Steven, you brought these guys in as your hand puppets, and you have your arm up both of their asses, controlling their every move. What’s going to happen when they find out that you will never let either one of them share your spotlight? Do you think they’ll be happy to act as nothing but your sidekicks for the rest of their days in the WBSW?”
He laughs.
Gunner: “And what’s going to happen Steven, when they find out that you fed them to the wolves by sending them after me on the last episode of WBSW Live? That chump Billy Sandow….do you think he’s still going to look up to you as a leader after I give him a concussion with my size 25 boot? And Ricky Moses…..what do you imagine he’ll think when I make that fake story you told about me a reality and I break his damned arm for real? These guys seem to have a bright future in the WBSW, but as long as they have you pulling the strings for them, they are going to end up as another victim….just as you will. And after this match when they see their leader lose to the WBSW Champion for the second time, maybe they’ll realize that and smarten up.”
He finishes checking out the bar area, then he starts to head over to the area of the room where the stage appears to be just being completed as he continues on.
Gunner: “Steven, there’s a reason that not a single superstar on the WBSW roster came forward to join you in the EIW. You are no champion, and this weekend I will prove that to you just like I did the first time we met.”
Gunner stops at the stage where a worker is waving him over. The man says a few words to him and hands him a clipboard, and after checking the stage out Gunner signs the clipboard. He nods at the man and they shake hands, then he and the rest of his crew begin to clear out. The view zooms in on the new stage floor for a few moments, and Gunner smiles with approval as he checks it out. He then refocuses back on the task at hand
Gunner: “This match this weekend, this no disqualification match…..this will be the first time I get to fight in a match with no rules what so ever. Up until this point in my short WBSW career, there has always been that line that I described earlier….and I have done my best to stay on the right side of that line as much as possible. But this weekend that line has been erased for me thanks to the WBSW fans, so I will give them want they want to see and I will not disappoint them. They want to see me take Steven Gold to that next level, and that’s what I will do. They want to see me use him as a sacrificial lamb to solidify my WBSW status, and that’s what I will do. But most importantly…”
The view zooms in his face.
Gunner: “….they want to see me raise the god damned roof in the Mohegan Sun Arena this weekend put on the greatest show the WBSW has ever seen. Because after all…
He gets mean look on his face as he removes the WBSW Championship belt from his shoulder and holds it up as he growls into the camera.
Gunner: “That’s what a champion does!”