Post by Roy Speede on Mar 4, 2018 23:52:11 GMT -5
26 February 2018
The scene opens backstage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the sounds of Clash still echoing in the background as Roy Speede paces down a backstage corridor toward the locker room, his face shimmering from perspiration and his ring gear still worn. Imagine Dragons' "Ready Aim Fire" can be heard faintly in the background as none other than Shia LaBeouf approaches "The Silver Lining".
"Roy, how does it feel to be in the main event of Revolution going after the World Championship?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm supposed to announce what's going on. I'm Shia LaBeouf, and I-"
"I know who you are. Why are you here?"
"I'm doing backstage interviews for Action Wrestling, and I was asked to come find you so we could talk about your World Title match at Revolution, and since I always preach the 'just do it' mindset, I kinda jumped in a little quick."
Speede shakes his head in a rather disappointed way.
"You're digging yourself a pretty deep hole, dude. Just stick to your day job."
"This is my day job, now. But alright. Ready to try this thing over? Take two..."
"Okay, I guess..."
Shia perks up and redirects Speede's attention toward the camera, taking a much more professional tone.
"Folks, I'm here with Roy Speede, who has just punched his ticket to the main event of Revolution, where he will be competing one-on-one for the World Championship. Roy, how do you feel knowing that you're one win away from your first career World Title?"
"Honestly? It's... it's surreal. It's mind-boggling. I haven't been this close in really ever, and now I'm about to challenge for the belt. I've been working for this my entire life, and now that I'm this close to accomplishing my dream, it's just... Wow."
"Okay, Owen Wilson, calm down. Now, in the ring right now are your two possible opponents for Revolution: Donald Deruty and Spencer Adams. Thoughts on who you'd rather face?"
"Who would I rather face? Well, Donald Deruty has been a good friend to me for a long time in this business, and I think it will be the biggest match in ADub's history just for us to lock horns for a match. Admittedly, though, this match will be the biggest in history for Action Wrestling either way. In six days, we crown our first World Champion: me."
"So regardless of who you face, you're confident about your chances?"
"Confident? Absolutely. Nervous, but confident. It's taken far too long for me to make it to this point in my career, and I think after seven years, it's about freaking time that I step up to the plate and claim what's mine. Spencer Adams has been both a prolific competitor and a prolific owner in the wrestling business, and Deruty is undoubtedly deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame back in the WCF, but Roy Speede is the face of Action Wrestling, and every face of a company needs to show strength when it counts the most."
"Speaking of the WCF, your former WCF tag team partner Alex Haden is reportedly close to signing a contract with Action Wrestling; how do you feel about that?"
"That's none of my concern right now; I'm looking toward Revolution, regardless of who is cheering me on and who is busy building their own resume toward a wrestling career. But one thing's for certain, though; even if he decides he's going to give competition another try and comes after my title, there's not a damn thing he can do to unseat me at the top of this company; this is my time to shine."
"Anyway, looking ahead, if you do win the championship, who do you see as being a good opponent for your first defense?"
"There are plenty of opponents lining up in this company trying to chase after the World Title. The tournament that took place creates a whole list by itself of worthy challengers, but none who were quite capable of making it to the top just yet, apparently. I think my first priority is winning the belt first, not worrying about who's coming after it once I claim ownership."
"Oh, sweet, are you guys doing an interview?"
Alex Haden, seemingly out of nowhere but more than likely from down the hall, approaches and stands beside Speede, interrupting before LaBeouf can ask another question.
"Uhh, yeah, we were in the middle of an interview-"
"Well, sorry to interrupt, but check this out!"
Alex holds up a signed Action Wrestling contract.
"Congrats! Anyway, Alex, why don't you, as the newest member of the roster, take over and enjoy your first interview as a member of the roster?"
"But I was-"
Haden again cuts off Shia LaBeouf.
"Sure! Thanks, Roy!"
Speede smirks, gives Alex a sarcastic grin and a pat on the back, and walks away, leaving Alex to finish the interview in his place. He proceeds into the locker room and peels off his ring boots and pads, and the camera fades to black.
Some time later, the scene reopens almost where it left off, only by this point Speede has changed into jeans and one of his own t-shirts from the merchandise store, hair still wet from having likely showered, and he is sitting on the bench of the locker room, hunched over with his fingers clenched in his hair looking at the ground. The door to the locker room pushes open and Alex walks in and Speede looks up.
"So, how was the interview?"
"It was alright. He didn't seem overly enthused to be interviewing me. Mostly just questions about how I felt about you going to the main event next week."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him the truth- that you deserved this chance, and you would make the most of it even at Deruty's expense. I said your friendship with him wouldn't get in the way of you giving it everything you've got and walking away with the gold in your hands."
"Thanks for the reassurance. I have the feeling this is going to be a bit crazy, though. Does that mean D-Day won earlier?"
"Yeah, he beat Spencer. Why crazy?"
"Because of the history we have. I mean, we used to have each other's backs. I still remember teaming with him and Gravedigger once, and I remember talking to him often back in the WCF. And then I realize, when he won the World Title back there, I was only eighteen. It's been seven long years, and I think he might be almost as hungry for a victory next week as I am. He held that belt; he knows what it's like to be on top of the mountain, and he undoubtedly wants it again."
"So? You know what it feels like better than anyone to be so close and not make it there. You've been hungry for that belt for longer than he has."
"Exactly. That's where I think I have him beat. But now I've got even more hanging over my head."
Haden pauses for a moment before responding.
"What do you mean?"
Speede stands up, motioning toward his friend.
"What do I mean? Alex, you just signed up for this place after I warned you about what it'll be like to drip your new blood into the water. You're here because of me, and I'm not going to be able to live with myself if you do something stupid and get hurt. Look at some of the guys here; you're not nearly as experienced as I am, and that could come back to haunt you. If you get hurt, I just know I'm going to feel responsible for it happening even though I told you no."
"That's why I'm only gonna join the 201 Division. I'm not nearly as intimidated by guys my own size, and I'm sure you understand where that is. Besides, remember our tag title run together? We beat freakin' Gravedigger to win the belts! And he owns the company we're in!"
"I guess, but-"
"You can't panic every time something doesn't immediately go your way, Roy. A good wrestler has a passion for wrestling, and you can't just take that passion away. Are you just scared I don't have that passion?"
"No."
"Exactly; if I didn't have that passion, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be giving it my all just like you to make it in this business."
"But for the last six years and then some, you haven't been! I've been making periodic appearances regardless of how I've felt about it for years since I stopped competing full-time because I knew I couldn't stay away. Look at Gravedigger, look at Torture; they keep making occasional appearances in the ring because they couldn't stay away. That's why they were so successful; they had a drive that couldn't quit- not that it wouldn't quit, it couldn't. That's why I knew I had to come back and stay back; but you..."
"Look at Deruty. You wanna argue that he doesn't love competing?"
"No..."
"He took a hiatus from competition for how long, and suddenly came back. I can do the same damned thing."
"I guess... just don't expect me to be supervising you every step of the way. I don't have time for that. I came back to this because the desire to be World Champion has grown stronger with every passing day, and now that I can see it hanging right in front of my face, I can't afford for you to be holding me back from grabbing it."
"Alright, I'll stay out of your way. But speaking of in your way, Deruty... Is that a German name?"
"I don't think so; why?"
"Because this is a D-Day loss, I could only guess that, y'know, he has German heritage."
"Do you know how UNoriginal that is? Every wrestler who has ever spoken a single ill word of Deruty has probably made that joke."
"Yeah, but it was funny, huh?"
Speede sighs and shakes his head; the scene fades to black, but not before-
"Alex, how is this company ever put up with you?"
---
4 March 2018
Speede is sitting in his rental car in the parking area of the Staples Center. For a long while, he is silent, watching as other cars funnel into the area and wrestlers and crew members alike maneuver past the vehicles piling up and into the building. Finally, Speede opens his mouth to speak.
"June fourteenth, 2011; WCF's Blast Pay-Per-View. For Jay Williams, that moment marked the end of his first and only World Championship reign. For Donald Deruty, it marked his first and only time holding the WCF World Championship belt. The Dead and Forgotten in the middle of that ring would give D-Day the biggest moment of his career, and almost seven years later, he stands poised to do the same thing all over again. Seven years later, he takes on another young star with a fire in his eyes, dynamite in-ring ability, and a rockstar-like cult following; but what he doesn't seem to realize is that unlike Jay Williams, he loses one of his biggest advantages: the fans. Jay always had a few people cheering him on, but Roy Speede is a name you see on countless signs in the crowd and a face you see on the t-shirts of thousands of attendees. Instead of chanting for D-Day, the audience will be battling back and forth for the entire match. Everybody loves Donald Deruty, but those same fans all love 'The Silver Lining'.
When those lights flicker on later this evening and everybody hears "Ready Aim Fire", the fans are going to blow the roof off of the arena like they always do, but there might not be a roof left to blow, because when those lights darken and the screen asks, 'can you hear me now?!' the world is going to roar with cheers. Those fans that you always had playing secret weapon aren't in your pocket tonight, D-Day; they're split right down the middle. And when the fans are split right down the middle, the world knows it's in for a spectacle to behold.
I remember when the entire world used to look upon you as an underdog, Donald. Nobody ever expected you to make it to the top, but you did. They treated me the same way, but the difference is that I haven't seen World Championship gold. That all changes in mere hours; you and I are acquaintances, perhaps even on a friendly level with one another, but that isn't going to stop me from planting you on your back and leaving that hunger for gold growling for another chance. You're called D-Day for a reason; you're hard-hitting, you're a force to be reckoned with, and nobody really expects what they get from you, even seven years after you've proven yourself. Look at Spencer Adams. Look at Dionysus. Look at Eavan Maloney. They all underestimated you, and now, they're watching from the sidelines while we make history.
But everybody has always underestimated me, too. Adam Young promised the first night that whomever won between us would be a lock for the finals of this tournament, and while he wasn't wrong, he promised an easy victory. Now, he's not even competing at our first Pay-Per-View. Camila Gonzalez thought I was just another nobody; she thought she was going to be a sure thing as Champion. But she's going to be facing off against Lisa Foster and cleaning up the ring before we even go on. Alexander Pasternak went out and binged on cocaine before our match because he expected I would be a pushover; now, he's no closer to a title match than the newest signees to the roster.
The fact of the matter is, when this tournament started, everybody but you and I thought we would be knocked out long before now; you and I? We called this match day one, and they can all stare in awe realizing that we were right, and that we would be the ones good enough to steal the show and walk away with the best match this company has seen to this point. And I can tell, that despite both of us knowing we'd be here, we underestimate each other a litte bit. When you last were this high on the hierarchy of a company, I was still a teenager. When I last was this close to a championship, you were in the back celebrating a win over our beloved Gravedigger and wondering who would walk away from Ultimate Showdown with which prize, and everyone was calling it an upset that I even made it to the final fall of an elimination match; but I'm sure you expected it. Only a few ever expected it, but you must have known.
When I walked away in second place as the Hardcore Champion, I knew I wouldn't have to worry about you coming after me; heck, the next week we were tag team partners. I knew you had my back, and I had yours. In a way, I feel like we still will, once the dust settles and one of us walks away with the World Title. But by the same token, I know that even if I should lose, I'm not going to give up that easily, and that I'll be back in the World Title picture. And I would only expect the same from you.
Second Place isn't good enough for me this time. I have spent the last seven years and then some of my life giving everything I did my all. I wrestled, I played football, and I even tried fishing as a means of making a living, but the knowledge that I was so close and just couldn't tip the scales never sat well with me. I got a call from Gravedigger a few months ago, and now, here I am, going one more time after the World Championship. And you know what? That feeling of worry I felt when I first agreed to give this one more shot has lingered, but tonight, that all goes away. I've gotten this far, and second place will never be satisfactory again."
Speede opens the door to his car and the alarm goes off, prompting him to aggressively paw at his pocket trying to find the key fob.
"Dammit! I hate it when this thing does that."
He finally manages to find and click the button, shutting off the alarm and allowing him to get out without further embarrassment. He looks around frantically and realizes that nobody was watching except the cameraman, and gives a sigh of relief.
"Second place is for guys like John Frost, TFK, Dionysus, who are gunning for the US Title. I've been that guy, and I'm not about to go back down that path. I have far too much at stake during my time in Action Wrestling to accept failure. I'm still the underdog; everybody looks at the list of things I've accomplished and laughs by comparison to D-Day. In seven attempts I have not eliminated a single person at War. In seven years, I have never won a World Title, and my claim to fame is second place. Donald Deruty likes to think of himself as the underdog, but this time everybody is expecting him to win; that's why he is at such a loss right now. Either he proves himself wrong and wins, or he proves the fans wrong and loses. I'm the one who everyone expects to be flat on the mat at the end of this one, regardless of how many of my fans want that to not be true."
As he crosses the parking lot, members of the backstage crew approach Speede, wishing him words of passing luck and shaking his hand. Roy enters the building, and paces with a sense of confidence down the hallway toward the locker room. Alex is sitting outside the locker room on the ground, as if waiting for him, and upon seeing him springs to his feet.
"How you feeling tonight, champ?"
"Do you remember the first time you asked a girl out?"
"That nervous, huh?"
"As much as I hate to admit it, yeah. Tonight's my big night, bro."
"You've got this. Remember what you told me; you've been wanting this for a long freaking time, and you're not letting anything hold you back?"
"Damn right."
Speede high-fives his best friend and proceeds into the locker room.
"I'll admit, nervous is a pretty good descriptor, but under pressure is where I'm at my best. Nervousness doesn't get to me anymore. I've always let my worries hold me back, but this time, D-Day, nor Alex, nor my nerves, are going to keep me from achieving this dream. The last time I let my doubts take control, I was flat in the middle of the ring with one leg in the air and someone else's shoulder pressing me flat as a pancake. Gravedigger may have gotten the better of me that night, but now, I'm poised to claim the World Championship in his company, and there's nothing he can do to stop me this time.
Deruty, I gotta say, this has been a long time in the making. I don't honestly remember the last time we got to go face to face like this; actually, I don't think we ever fought one-on-one. But I do remember teaming with you and facing you in the ring, and if there's one thing that I'm sure of, it's that your past success and my past failures don't define either of us; tonight is going to set the standard for this company in an exciting way, and whichever one of us walks away with the title, I know there will be no hard feelings. You're a stand-up guy with a reputation for holding respect for your opponents, and I admire that. I have always tried to be the same way, but respect and a willingness to let someone get the better of you are two different things entirely. Just because I once looked up to you and consider you one of my best friends in the wrestling business does not mean that I will let you have any advantage over me.
This is the biggest moment of my career, and friends or enemies, you're just another competitor to fall to me. You're just another name on the list of wrestlers I'll have defeated to make it to this point; we may coexist well in this business, but I will not hesitate to drop you like a boulder on a cartoon coyote to get to the top. You may be the underdog and the fan favorite most of the time, but I'm taking those roles from you, and I'm taking the title right out from under you too. It's been years in the making, but it's time for me to take home the big one; it's time for 'The Silver Lining' to become Action Wrestling's Gold Standard.
Good luck, Donald. I look forward to this match; but I look forward to the ending just as much."
The scene fades to black as Speede opens his locker and gathers his gear to prepare for the match ahead.
The scene opens backstage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the sounds of Clash still echoing in the background as Roy Speede paces down a backstage corridor toward the locker room, his face shimmering from perspiration and his ring gear still worn. Imagine Dragons' "Ready Aim Fire" can be heard faintly in the background as none other than Shia LaBeouf approaches "The Silver Lining".
"Roy, how does it feel to be in the main event of Revolution going after the World Championship?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm supposed to announce what's going on. I'm Shia LaBeouf, and I-"
"I know who you are. Why are you here?"
"I'm doing backstage interviews for Action Wrestling, and I was asked to come find you so we could talk about your World Title match at Revolution, and since I always preach the 'just do it' mindset, I kinda jumped in a little quick."
Speede shakes his head in a rather disappointed way.
"You're digging yourself a pretty deep hole, dude. Just stick to your day job."
"This is my day job, now. But alright. Ready to try this thing over? Take two..."
"Okay, I guess..."
Shia perks up and redirects Speede's attention toward the camera, taking a much more professional tone.
"Folks, I'm here with Roy Speede, who has just punched his ticket to the main event of Revolution, where he will be competing one-on-one for the World Championship. Roy, how do you feel knowing that you're one win away from your first career World Title?"
"Honestly? It's... it's surreal. It's mind-boggling. I haven't been this close in really ever, and now I'm about to challenge for the belt. I've been working for this my entire life, and now that I'm this close to accomplishing my dream, it's just... Wow."
"Okay, Owen Wilson, calm down. Now, in the ring right now are your two possible opponents for Revolution: Donald Deruty and Spencer Adams. Thoughts on who you'd rather face?"
"Who would I rather face? Well, Donald Deruty has been a good friend to me for a long time in this business, and I think it will be the biggest match in ADub's history just for us to lock horns for a match. Admittedly, though, this match will be the biggest in history for Action Wrestling either way. In six days, we crown our first World Champion: me."
"So regardless of who you face, you're confident about your chances?"
"Confident? Absolutely. Nervous, but confident. It's taken far too long for me to make it to this point in my career, and I think after seven years, it's about freaking time that I step up to the plate and claim what's mine. Spencer Adams has been both a prolific competitor and a prolific owner in the wrestling business, and Deruty is undoubtedly deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame back in the WCF, but Roy Speede is the face of Action Wrestling, and every face of a company needs to show strength when it counts the most."
"Speaking of the WCF, your former WCF tag team partner Alex Haden is reportedly close to signing a contract with Action Wrestling; how do you feel about that?"
"That's none of my concern right now; I'm looking toward Revolution, regardless of who is cheering me on and who is busy building their own resume toward a wrestling career. But one thing's for certain, though; even if he decides he's going to give competition another try and comes after my title, there's not a damn thing he can do to unseat me at the top of this company; this is my time to shine."
"Anyway, looking ahead, if you do win the championship, who do you see as being a good opponent for your first defense?"
"There are plenty of opponents lining up in this company trying to chase after the World Title. The tournament that took place creates a whole list by itself of worthy challengers, but none who were quite capable of making it to the top just yet, apparently. I think my first priority is winning the belt first, not worrying about who's coming after it once I claim ownership."
"Oh, sweet, are you guys doing an interview?"
Alex Haden, seemingly out of nowhere but more than likely from down the hall, approaches and stands beside Speede, interrupting before LaBeouf can ask another question.
"Uhh, yeah, we were in the middle of an interview-"
"Well, sorry to interrupt, but check this out!"
Alex holds up a signed Action Wrestling contract.
"Congrats! Anyway, Alex, why don't you, as the newest member of the roster, take over and enjoy your first interview as a member of the roster?"
"But I was-"
Haden again cuts off Shia LaBeouf.
"Sure! Thanks, Roy!"
Speede smirks, gives Alex a sarcastic grin and a pat on the back, and walks away, leaving Alex to finish the interview in his place. He proceeds into the locker room and peels off his ring boots and pads, and the camera fades to black.
Some time later, the scene reopens almost where it left off, only by this point Speede has changed into jeans and one of his own t-shirts from the merchandise store, hair still wet from having likely showered, and he is sitting on the bench of the locker room, hunched over with his fingers clenched in his hair looking at the ground. The door to the locker room pushes open and Alex walks in and Speede looks up.
"So, how was the interview?"
"It was alright. He didn't seem overly enthused to be interviewing me. Mostly just questions about how I felt about you going to the main event next week."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him the truth- that you deserved this chance, and you would make the most of it even at Deruty's expense. I said your friendship with him wouldn't get in the way of you giving it everything you've got and walking away with the gold in your hands."
"Thanks for the reassurance. I have the feeling this is going to be a bit crazy, though. Does that mean D-Day won earlier?"
"Yeah, he beat Spencer. Why crazy?"
"Because of the history we have. I mean, we used to have each other's backs. I still remember teaming with him and Gravedigger once, and I remember talking to him often back in the WCF. And then I realize, when he won the World Title back there, I was only eighteen. It's been seven long years, and I think he might be almost as hungry for a victory next week as I am. He held that belt; he knows what it's like to be on top of the mountain, and he undoubtedly wants it again."
"So? You know what it feels like better than anyone to be so close and not make it there. You've been hungry for that belt for longer than he has."
"Exactly. That's where I think I have him beat. But now I've got even more hanging over my head."
Haden pauses for a moment before responding.
"What do you mean?"
Speede stands up, motioning toward his friend.
"What do I mean? Alex, you just signed up for this place after I warned you about what it'll be like to drip your new blood into the water. You're here because of me, and I'm not going to be able to live with myself if you do something stupid and get hurt. Look at some of the guys here; you're not nearly as experienced as I am, and that could come back to haunt you. If you get hurt, I just know I'm going to feel responsible for it happening even though I told you no."
"That's why I'm only gonna join the 201 Division. I'm not nearly as intimidated by guys my own size, and I'm sure you understand where that is. Besides, remember our tag title run together? We beat freakin' Gravedigger to win the belts! And he owns the company we're in!"
"I guess, but-"
"You can't panic every time something doesn't immediately go your way, Roy. A good wrestler has a passion for wrestling, and you can't just take that passion away. Are you just scared I don't have that passion?"
"No."
"Exactly; if I didn't have that passion, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be giving it my all just like you to make it in this business."
"But for the last six years and then some, you haven't been! I've been making periodic appearances regardless of how I've felt about it for years since I stopped competing full-time because I knew I couldn't stay away. Look at Gravedigger, look at Torture; they keep making occasional appearances in the ring because they couldn't stay away. That's why they were so successful; they had a drive that couldn't quit- not that it wouldn't quit, it couldn't. That's why I knew I had to come back and stay back; but you..."
"Look at Deruty. You wanna argue that he doesn't love competing?"
"No..."
"He took a hiatus from competition for how long, and suddenly came back. I can do the same damned thing."
"I guess... just don't expect me to be supervising you every step of the way. I don't have time for that. I came back to this because the desire to be World Champion has grown stronger with every passing day, and now that I can see it hanging right in front of my face, I can't afford for you to be holding me back from grabbing it."
"Alright, I'll stay out of your way. But speaking of in your way, Deruty... Is that a German name?"
"I don't think so; why?"
"Because this is a D-Day loss, I could only guess that, y'know, he has German heritage."
"Do you know how UNoriginal that is? Every wrestler who has ever spoken a single ill word of Deruty has probably made that joke."
"Yeah, but it was funny, huh?"
Speede sighs and shakes his head; the scene fades to black, but not before-
"Alex, how is this company ever put up with you?"
---
4 March 2018
Speede is sitting in his rental car in the parking area of the Staples Center. For a long while, he is silent, watching as other cars funnel into the area and wrestlers and crew members alike maneuver past the vehicles piling up and into the building. Finally, Speede opens his mouth to speak.
"June fourteenth, 2011; WCF's Blast Pay-Per-View. For Jay Williams, that moment marked the end of his first and only World Championship reign. For Donald Deruty, it marked his first and only time holding the WCF World Championship belt. The Dead and Forgotten in the middle of that ring would give D-Day the biggest moment of his career, and almost seven years later, he stands poised to do the same thing all over again. Seven years later, he takes on another young star with a fire in his eyes, dynamite in-ring ability, and a rockstar-like cult following; but what he doesn't seem to realize is that unlike Jay Williams, he loses one of his biggest advantages: the fans. Jay always had a few people cheering him on, but Roy Speede is a name you see on countless signs in the crowd and a face you see on the t-shirts of thousands of attendees. Instead of chanting for D-Day, the audience will be battling back and forth for the entire match. Everybody loves Donald Deruty, but those same fans all love 'The Silver Lining'.
When those lights flicker on later this evening and everybody hears "Ready Aim Fire", the fans are going to blow the roof off of the arena like they always do, but there might not be a roof left to blow, because when those lights darken and the screen asks, 'can you hear me now?!' the world is going to roar with cheers. Those fans that you always had playing secret weapon aren't in your pocket tonight, D-Day; they're split right down the middle. And when the fans are split right down the middle, the world knows it's in for a spectacle to behold.
I remember when the entire world used to look upon you as an underdog, Donald. Nobody ever expected you to make it to the top, but you did. They treated me the same way, but the difference is that I haven't seen World Championship gold. That all changes in mere hours; you and I are acquaintances, perhaps even on a friendly level with one another, but that isn't going to stop me from planting you on your back and leaving that hunger for gold growling for another chance. You're called D-Day for a reason; you're hard-hitting, you're a force to be reckoned with, and nobody really expects what they get from you, even seven years after you've proven yourself. Look at Spencer Adams. Look at Dionysus. Look at Eavan Maloney. They all underestimated you, and now, they're watching from the sidelines while we make history.
But everybody has always underestimated me, too. Adam Young promised the first night that whomever won between us would be a lock for the finals of this tournament, and while he wasn't wrong, he promised an easy victory. Now, he's not even competing at our first Pay-Per-View. Camila Gonzalez thought I was just another nobody; she thought she was going to be a sure thing as Champion. But she's going to be facing off against Lisa Foster and cleaning up the ring before we even go on. Alexander Pasternak went out and binged on cocaine before our match because he expected I would be a pushover; now, he's no closer to a title match than the newest signees to the roster.
The fact of the matter is, when this tournament started, everybody but you and I thought we would be knocked out long before now; you and I? We called this match day one, and they can all stare in awe realizing that we were right, and that we would be the ones good enough to steal the show and walk away with the best match this company has seen to this point. And I can tell, that despite both of us knowing we'd be here, we underestimate each other a litte bit. When you last were this high on the hierarchy of a company, I was still a teenager. When I last was this close to a championship, you were in the back celebrating a win over our beloved Gravedigger and wondering who would walk away from Ultimate Showdown with which prize, and everyone was calling it an upset that I even made it to the final fall of an elimination match; but I'm sure you expected it. Only a few ever expected it, but you must have known.
When I walked away in second place as the Hardcore Champion, I knew I wouldn't have to worry about you coming after me; heck, the next week we were tag team partners. I knew you had my back, and I had yours. In a way, I feel like we still will, once the dust settles and one of us walks away with the World Title. But by the same token, I know that even if I should lose, I'm not going to give up that easily, and that I'll be back in the World Title picture. And I would only expect the same from you.
Second Place isn't good enough for me this time. I have spent the last seven years and then some of my life giving everything I did my all. I wrestled, I played football, and I even tried fishing as a means of making a living, but the knowledge that I was so close and just couldn't tip the scales never sat well with me. I got a call from Gravedigger a few months ago, and now, here I am, going one more time after the World Championship. And you know what? That feeling of worry I felt when I first agreed to give this one more shot has lingered, but tonight, that all goes away. I've gotten this far, and second place will never be satisfactory again."
Speede opens the door to his car and the alarm goes off, prompting him to aggressively paw at his pocket trying to find the key fob.
"Dammit! I hate it when this thing does that."
He finally manages to find and click the button, shutting off the alarm and allowing him to get out without further embarrassment. He looks around frantically and realizes that nobody was watching except the cameraman, and gives a sigh of relief.
"Second place is for guys like John Frost, TFK, Dionysus, who are gunning for the US Title. I've been that guy, and I'm not about to go back down that path. I have far too much at stake during my time in Action Wrestling to accept failure. I'm still the underdog; everybody looks at the list of things I've accomplished and laughs by comparison to D-Day. In seven attempts I have not eliminated a single person at War. In seven years, I have never won a World Title, and my claim to fame is second place. Donald Deruty likes to think of himself as the underdog, but this time everybody is expecting him to win; that's why he is at such a loss right now. Either he proves himself wrong and wins, or he proves the fans wrong and loses. I'm the one who everyone expects to be flat on the mat at the end of this one, regardless of how many of my fans want that to not be true."
As he crosses the parking lot, members of the backstage crew approach Speede, wishing him words of passing luck and shaking his hand. Roy enters the building, and paces with a sense of confidence down the hallway toward the locker room. Alex is sitting outside the locker room on the ground, as if waiting for him, and upon seeing him springs to his feet.
"How you feeling tonight, champ?"
"Do you remember the first time you asked a girl out?"
"That nervous, huh?"
"As much as I hate to admit it, yeah. Tonight's my big night, bro."
"You've got this. Remember what you told me; you've been wanting this for a long freaking time, and you're not letting anything hold you back?"
"Damn right."
Speede high-fives his best friend and proceeds into the locker room.
"I'll admit, nervous is a pretty good descriptor, but under pressure is where I'm at my best. Nervousness doesn't get to me anymore. I've always let my worries hold me back, but this time, D-Day, nor Alex, nor my nerves, are going to keep me from achieving this dream. The last time I let my doubts take control, I was flat in the middle of the ring with one leg in the air and someone else's shoulder pressing me flat as a pancake. Gravedigger may have gotten the better of me that night, but now, I'm poised to claim the World Championship in his company, and there's nothing he can do to stop me this time.
Deruty, I gotta say, this has been a long time in the making. I don't honestly remember the last time we got to go face to face like this; actually, I don't think we ever fought one-on-one. But I do remember teaming with you and facing you in the ring, and if there's one thing that I'm sure of, it's that your past success and my past failures don't define either of us; tonight is going to set the standard for this company in an exciting way, and whichever one of us walks away with the title, I know there will be no hard feelings. You're a stand-up guy with a reputation for holding respect for your opponents, and I admire that. I have always tried to be the same way, but respect and a willingness to let someone get the better of you are two different things entirely. Just because I once looked up to you and consider you one of my best friends in the wrestling business does not mean that I will let you have any advantage over me.
This is the biggest moment of my career, and friends or enemies, you're just another competitor to fall to me. You're just another name on the list of wrestlers I'll have defeated to make it to this point; we may coexist well in this business, but I will not hesitate to drop you like a boulder on a cartoon coyote to get to the top. You may be the underdog and the fan favorite most of the time, but I'm taking those roles from you, and I'm taking the title right out from under you too. It's been years in the making, but it's time for me to take home the big one; it's time for 'The Silver Lining' to become Action Wrestling's Gold Standard.
Good luck, Donald. I look forward to this match; but I look forward to the ending just as much."
The scene fades to black as Speede opens his locker and gathers his gear to prepare for the match ahead.