Post by CJ Phoenix on Aug 28, 2022 13:57:25 GMT -5
The simulation hypothesis proposes that all of our existence is a simulated reality, such as a computer simulation which convinces its inhabitants that the simulation is "real".
The simulation hypothesis proposes that part of you is getting tired of reading this, but you can't stop because of the subtle changes. It's getting "real" now.
It's a good thing I tend to wear titles around my waist because my shoulder is STILL in pain from Ash Blake's Icaruswing. Fortunately, everything's still intact, but I'm not taking any chances with Uprising just a half dozen nights away. I can't celebrate as much as Spencer can, but I truly am happy for him. For both of us.....that...that is him standing next to me, right?
For a moment, it wasn't. It was Teo Blaze with loud "Blazing Phoenix" chants coming from the crowd in the background. The Luminary of Despair shakes his head and returns to reality, seeing a beat up, but hyped Spencer Adams grinning.
Spencer: Damn, it feels so good to hold this belt again!
Phoenix: I bet it does. That makes five, right?
Spencer: Yep! I couldn't have asked for a better person to win #5 with. I really couldn't have done this without you man.
Phoenix: Well...it's a tag team match so having a tag partner is generally a necessity.
Spencer laughs at the combination of my words and the pretend confused look on my face. He decides to add sarcasm to his reply.
Spencer: Really? I would have never guessed.
Then, his tone turns to a more serious one.
Spencer: You don't know how much more this win means than the other for tag title wins. That match against Dune back at Turmoil took everything out of me. That first day I was in the hospital, the thought of me winning this belt again never crossed my mind. I was too worried about potentially never being able to hold my child. Now, thanks to you, I can do both. Even after all of the doubts and injuries, I was able to prove that I still have that fight in me. I still have more left to give. I was able to achieve something I didn't think I would, and it was with somebody that had my back even when I was in a dark place. That's what makes this different from the others.
Wow. I'm so proud of this dude. Somebody needs to go somewhere else with all of that onion cutting.
Phoenix: You earned it, man. You fought your way back to this ring and it paid off. Proud of you bro.
Spencer: Thanks. I'm proud of you too. I got my redemption. Now it's your turn.
I look at my title and then back at Spencer.
Phoenix: Yeah....now it's my turn.
And it will lead to a greater destination than yours, Sam Kidsgrove. You poured your heart out to everyone six months ago. Telling us how 360 days from back then, you would either be gone or you'd have a new contract and HOPEFULLY a world title along with it. You made it sound like you're some kind of noble warrior trying to make one last hoorah before you ride off into the sunset. 'What a brave man he is! Fighting with everything he has left to prove he still belongs!' You're starting to look a lot like Brett Favre in his final year. We're all rooting for you to be happy, but every time we see you go out there, you just get sadder and sadder to watch. A veteran flailing around, desperately trying to hold on to a roster spot that even YOU don't think you deserve anymore. Instead of Slinging Sammy Baugh, you're Swinging Sammy Kidsgrove because you keep trying to hit that last home run, but you just keep swinging and MISSING! Case in point, the US Title. I started the year giving you a chance to earn a shot at it...and you botched it. You spent more time in the matches you fumbled away trying to get it than you did holding the belt when you actually got it. Maybe you should take it as a sign that you've lost a bigger step than you thought.
Uprising is where MY journey takes its next step. While you're sweating it out on day 359 with one foot out the door, wondering if AW will drag you back in, I'll continue to be a cornerstone of this company. Your best quality is that you're a likeable guy with success outside of AW that people can rally behind. Back in 2018 and 2019, you were exactly what this place needed, but now that I'm here and these people have seen just a FRACTION of what I'm capable of....
WE DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE, SAM.
You KNOW it too. You know that WHEN I bring down that briefcase, it'll be another nail in your coffin. The THUNDEROUS standing ovation of the crowd will be the final bell tolling as the sun sets on your ambitious. I'M the one they cheer for now. I'M the workhorse that they put their faith in. I was just as uncertain about my career back in your prime as you are right now as I slowly approach mine. So I'm picking up where you left off, but I'm going further than you ever will. This is more that just a journey for me, Sammy.
Not yours, Jill Park. You had yours six days ago. The stars finally aligned for the whiny little 'TV star'. You got everything you wanted. Gold. Recognition. Spotlight. I know what you're thinking. 'Now that I have TWO titles and all of this momentum and confidence, I can finally get my revenge on CJ Phoenix for last year's All-In match. I can finally redeem myself.' I must say as much as I love the city's worth of real estate that I have on your head, all of this animosity you have towards me is just a reflection of the despair that you feel within yourself. You just can't handle being outshined, can you? Even if our roles were reversed and you managed to knock me off that ladder, you would've just been struck in the back by that snake Kyle Kemp. I was the one that everyone KNEW deserved that win, NOT YOU and you HATE me for it! Face it, Jill. You're not mad you didn't win last year. You're mad because I fought you at the top of that ladder and showed everyone that my will is GREATER than yours! And you know what it got me? A chair shot to the back and a front row seat to one of the weakest World Title reigns of all time! I witnessed this company STAGNATE when it should've been SOARING to the STRATOSPHERE! No one said 'WOW! CJ Phoenix held his own against Jill Park on that ladder' because I'm a step ABOVE you....
As a TV star
As a singles wrestler
As a tag team wrestler
As a champion
What you have is NOT a drive for redemption, it's a blind grudge you've been holding for what'll be 364 days Sunday. You talked about me not being able to break through the glass ceiling, but it's the same one that you couldn't even get your dirty little fingernails to scratch the surface of. I had to claw my way BACK to ground zero and EARN the right to shake off the moniker of being some part-timing undercarder. I am the EMBODIMENT of redemption, and Sunday, I'm gonna knock you off your high horse AGAIN. This time when I do it, I'll be taking home the briefcase afterwards.
Spencer and I ran into Adilene, and I chose not to stay long enough for them to start PDAing. I needed answers. I needed to find Vanessa ASAP. So I searched the Arthur Ashe Stadium for what felt like the longest four minutes ever before I found her. She didn't look suspicious when she noticed me. She just smiled and waved.
Vanessa: Hey there, champ! Congratulations on the win.
Phoenix: Thanks.
Vanessa: How are you feeling?
Phoenix: As exhausted as I look.... probably more.
Vanessa: Oh my goose. Go to bed.
Phoenix: Nope. Gotta ask you something first.
Vanessa: Hmm? What's up?
Phoenix: Were you ever a nurse by chance?
Vanessa: A nurse? Does dressing up like one count?
Phoenix: Uhhhh no. Don't think so.
Vanessa: Then no. How come you ask?
Dammit. What's going on here? I know she's not lying. If she were, it would be obvious. So if she's not a nurse.....wait. I have an idea.
Phoenix: I tried to call you a little while back and your voicemail said you're a nurse.
Vanessa shows a look of honest confusion.
Vanessa: Say what?
Phoenix: Listen to this.
I took out my phone and called hers. We watched as the call went to voicemail and the message played again.
"Hey there! You've reached nurse Vanessa Rivers! I'm sorry for missing your call, but if you leave your name and number, I'll be sure to call you back! Have a great day!"
Vanessa: There's no way.... that's definitely my voice, but I don't remember ever setting up voicemail. How is this possible?
Phoenix: I don't know, but I've been having a bunch of weird nightmares all month. Then, I had this weird....memory where I was in some sort of room about to have.... surgery or something? I saw two figures. A man and a woman. And I heard him call her Vanessa. So I had to ask.
Vanessa: That's fair....wait. I keep having these dreams where I'm looking for someone, but I don't know who or why. I don't know if that helps.
Phoenix: It could be helpful. Not sure how yet, but it's possible.
Vanessa: That's good. I could check my room as well the next time I get a chance to.
Phoenix: I'd appreciate that.
Vanessa: No problem.
Phoenix: I'll do the same when I get the chance. For now, I've gotta get some ice on this shoulder.
Vanessa: Yeah, and some rest.
Phoenix: That too.
And unlike you, Regan Voorhees, I'm the MAIN CHARACTER. It's been a while since the same could be said about you, hasn't it? Long gone are the days where you were the Cruiserweight of the year and a terrorizing force to be reckoned with. Now, you're cruising towards the sophomore slump of the year award. A multiple time Cruiserweight champion reduced to an errand girl for Jill Park. You may think this is your shot at returning to relevance, but it's not. It's gonna be another instance of me stomping you out like the goomba that you are on my way to bringing down the flag at the end of the match for the win.
Like your Affluenza associate, you're a prime example of someone with a high floor, but a relatively low ceiling above it. Except in your case, you seem to have fallen through the floor. You've been figured out. You fired every shot in your arsenal last year. Now you have nothing left. On top of that, you continue to singlehandedly sink the reputation of CruiserClash. Those two simp-assisted Cruiserweight Title wins are looking less and less impressive by the day. And now everywhere I go, you run away from because you know I'll outshine you. Jill carried you to the main event scene just for you to fall off. Then she carried you in the tag division...until King Shit sent you both crawling out of the tag division. But let us not dwell on the past. Let's talk about the present and how you've gone from the face of one brand to the ass of the brand that I've become the face of. While you were coasting on your overconfidence, I've been working night and day to home my craft, and now Newton's first law applies to both of us.
A Regan who's been at rest, stays at rest, and falls behind the competition...while a Phoenix in motion, stays in motion...all the way to the All-In briefcase, the World Title, and even further beyond into the future!
You just happen to exist in it, Serenity. Think of it this way. You're the Grizzlies to my Warriors. The Ja Morant to my Steph Curry. We both have skills, but I have experience. I'm battle tested. I've already gone through the bright lights stage. The one that you're going through now where you get these accolades and opportunities and it makes you think you're better than you actually are......until life humbles you and you see what darkness looks like. You spent 105 days basking in the spotlight as Women's Champion, but look at what's happened in the last 60. You're no longer a champion. You couldn't win the title back. You failed against me and Spencer Adams at Meltdown, and you're gonna fail against me AGAIN this Sunday. You consider yourself the future, but THERE IS NO FUTURE WITHOUT THE GROUNDWORK I'VE BEEN LAYING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS! Not just with my wrestling skills, but with things like the Trials of Despair and Hope's Peak Academy. My work speaks for itself, and it'll continue to do so as I claim that briefcase and the World Title that's been meant for me since day one!
A psychological war that you have unfortunately gotten yourself involved in, but you like those kinds of things, right? You like getting into people's heads. Bending their minds to your will. Really getting under someone else's skin. You want so badly to give people nightmares about facing you. I've got some bad news for you, Alice.
I'm used to killing dreams AND nightmares.
I've played this game of psychological warfare with countless people and I've beaten them, including the one that made you tap out less than a week ago. How does it feel to be out-brutalized? What's it like to be at a psychological DISADVANTAGE? Your mind games didn't work against Jill Park on Clash and they won't work against CJ Phoenix at Uprising. I know A LOT about the mind, and how being able to tap into the darkest parts of the human psyche requires you to already be in a dark place mentally. In other words, you're hiding your despair....but I see it clearly. When I crack into the minds of others, I show them the despair within themselves so they can learn from it. You just do it to make others as miserable as you are. You want them to feel as weak and helpless as you are deep down. That's what you're afraid of.
W-E-A-K-N-E-S-S
You're too afraid to face it, so you flaunt a false confidence while trying to bring the world down to your level. Miss me with that bullshit. You're about to to be in a sea of weakness Sunday night. First, you got humiliated a few days back. Now, you're gonna get HUMBLED by the Luminary of Despair when I bring down the briefcase for the win while you're laying on the ground. Just as helpless and weak as you were before. Consider it my gift to you on my way to claiming the World Title.
After Clash ended, I walked back to my car and removed the Tag Team Title from around my waist. I take a moment to stare at the belt and finish processing what happened tonight so that I can start preparing for Sunday. It gave me the urge to take a picture of the title and send it to an old friend with two sentences attached to it.
"Hey, Wesley, this one's for you. I'm sorry that it didn't happen sooner."
"All good man. I appreciate it. You've made a lot of progress since we first met, but I know you won't be satisfied until you get that World Title. Go win that briefcase so that you can get it!"
"Thanks, man. I will!"
That's what we all wanted. Making each other better so that we can ALL stand at the top of the mountain. Kemp got there. Wesley got injured. Dandy got there. Chase went off to OCW. Two up, two down, with me of all people as the tiebreaker.
The Tag Team Title win was for Spencer and Wesley.
The All-In briefcase? The World Title?
I'm winning those for ME. For where I come from and what I've been through, I'm not walking away again. Not before I get there.
No matter what happens....
No matter what it takes....
I'm getting to the top of that mountain...
To do things the RIGHT way, Downfall. I find myself in the same position you were in when the year started. A tag team champion going after the World Title. You held them both, and so can I....so WILL I....but I won't make the mistakes that you did. YOU let that power corrupt you. Ever since you lost the World Title at Revolution, your life is what's taken a downfall. For the last seven months, you've unraveled. You tried to carry too much and it BROKE you! Dion's been trying to hold you together emotionally all this time, but it's become too much even for him now. He doesn't even recognize you anymore.
You've become PATHETIC
The fact that you're in this match is SHAMEFUL. The once noble Vanguard warrior had to resort to underhanded tactics just to beat Johnny Bacchus and qualify for this match. You knew he was about to BEAT YOU, so you got DESPERATE.
You had it all after the first Clash of the year. Now you have NOTHING! No Tag Title, mine, no World Title, soon to be mine, and no morals. You lost one match at Revolution and threw away everything you stood for afterwards.
I won't make that mistake. WHEN I win this match, and WHEN I become World Champion, I'll carry both belts, AND this company, with honor!
You have nothing now but your despair and your disgrace, and after Uprising, I'll have the briefcase while you'll still have NOTHING! This means more to me that anything will ever mean to you!
For the shit you pulled last year, Kyle Kemp! Sunday will mark 364 days since you STOLE what was rightfully mine! I used to be upset Because of what you did that night, but I'm not anymore. I'm more pissed off at what you did afterwards.
NOTHING! You did absolutely NOTHING!
You cashed in at Execution, tapped out at Turmoil, and was back out of the picture by Revolution. All you did was PROVE that you're not WORTHY of holding the Mjölnir of Action Wrestling that is the World Title. Just you being back in this match supports my point. In the last twelve months, I'VE become the main eventer while YOU'VE fallen back to the middle of the pack where you know you belong! It's comical seeing you crawling back to this match again. NEEDING the briefcase to ambush somebody with because that's the ONLY way you can get shit done. "I'm better than everyone!" You love to say, yet you'd rather sneak in as many cheap shots as you can because you're afraid to face the people that are ACTUALLY better than you!
You DEVALUED the All-In briefcase, and I'm not letting you do it twice! How does it feel to know that not even the golden ticket to the highest echelon could carry you to being a true main eventer? I guarantee it won't hurt you NEARLY as bad as it will when I become the World Champion that you WISH you could've been! A champion that can raise AW's Mjölnir proudly and electrify the world with his mere presence! You're a snake in the grass, but I'm about to burn the whole field down Sunday and rise from the ashes of what used to be my opponents.
And it's perfect that you'll be there to witness it, Teo. After all, the shoe's on the other foot now. No one's presence is a better example of my progress than yours. You're CruiserClash's most decorated wrestler. Five Cruiserweight Tag Title reigns. Four Cruiserweight Title runs to go with them. You're a man of the people. A champion of the people even. But here's the thing that you've never been able to get out of your mind no matter how much you try to repress it....
The people love ME more
And they always have. Remember how we teamed up a few times back in WCF and people were ready to preorder "Blazing Phoenix" merch? You, the crafty man of the people and me, the lovable, starryeyed rookie with untapped potential. I lacked knowledge back then. I was just winging it, not knowing that I could be doing much better. I'd argue that you were the first person that saw my potential...maybe even before I did. You had a chance to be a true mentor and be a part of the greatest development ever. Instead, my potential scared you to the point that you stood there and watched me struggle. You believed yourself too good to be seen with me. You watched me drown to death, but now that I've risen, I'VE become too good for YOU to keep up with!
I wasn't born into this sport and I wasn't tearing it up in the indies or any developmental programs. I walked into that ring and I fell. Repeatedly. Sure I won a title in WCF, but for the most part, my career wasn't impressive. I wasn't consistent. I wasn't the future of anything. Even when Action Wrestling started in 2018, I was there year one. I wrestled four matches that year and none in 2019. For most people, that's a career death sentence. Just another no-name with five minutes of glory and the rest of it being forgettable shame. I heard all the time about how much of a 'failure' I am and how I can't win this and can't win that. I've heard that bullshit for FIVE YEARS and yet my very EXISTENCE in this company proves them wrong!
My career was DEAD....and I brought it back to LIFE! How many other people can say that they walked into the ring after a two year absence and nothing truly noteworthy to their name and fought their way up to the top!? ZERO! People talk about me not being able to break the glass ceiling when there was a time where I couldn't even get off the ground! I could've given up completely like so many people that lose all hope, but I didn't. I FOUGHT MY WAY TO WHERE I AM NOW! THOSE PEOPLE DON'T JUST CHEER FOR ME BECAUSE I'M A GREAT WRESTLER! THEY RALLY BEHIND ME BECAUSE I DID WHAT NOBODY THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE! I'M NOT JUST A MIRACLE SECOND WIND, I AM PROOF OF DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE!
NOBODY HAS MORE HEART THAN ME!
NOBODY HAS MORE DETERMINATION THAN ME!
NOBODY HAS MORE RESOLVE THAN ME!
I KNOW I WASN'T THE BEST WRESTLER WHEN I FIRST SIGNED A CONTRACT, BUT I'VE WORKED MY ASS OFF TO BE A BETTER WRESTLER, HUSBAND, PERSON, LEADER, AND INSPIRATION THAN ANYONE THOUGHT I COULD BE!
THIS SUNDAY, I'M TAKING HOME MY BRIEFCASE! I'M GONNA USE IT TO WIN MY WORLD TITLE IN MY COMPANY IN FRONT OF AND FOR ALL OF MY PEOPLE!!
The simulation hypothesis proposes that part of you is getting tired of reading this, but you can't stop because of the subtle changes. It's getting "real" now.
It's a good thing I tend to wear titles around my waist because my shoulder is STILL in pain from Ash Blake's Icaruswing. Fortunately, everything's still intact, but I'm not taking any chances with Uprising just a half dozen nights away. I can't celebrate as much as Spencer can, but I truly am happy for him. For both of us.....that...that is him standing next to me, right?
For a moment, it wasn't. It was Teo Blaze with loud "Blazing Phoenix" chants coming from the crowd in the background. The Luminary of Despair shakes his head and returns to reality, seeing a beat up, but hyped Spencer Adams grinning.
Spencer: Damn, it feels so good to hold this belt again!
Phoenix: I bet it does. That makes five, right?
Spencer: Yep! I couldn't have asked for a better person to win #5 with. I really couldn't have done this without you man.
Phoenix: Well...it's a tag team match so having a tag partner is generally a necessity.
Spencer laughs at the combination of my words and the pretend confused look on my face. He decides to add sarcasm to his reply.
Spencer: Really? I would have never guessed.
Then, his tone turns to a more serious one.
Spencer: You don't know how much more this win means than the other for tag title wins. That match against Dune back at Turmoil took everything out of me. That first day I was in the hospital, the thought of me winning this belt again never crossed my mind. I was too worried about potentially never being able to hold my child. Now, thanks to you, I can do both. Even after all of the doubts and injuries, I was able to prove that I still have that fight in me. I still have more left to give. I was able to achieve something I didn't think I would, and it was with somebody that had my back even when I was in a dark place. That's what makes this different from the others.
Wow. I'm so proud of this dude. Somebody needs to go somewhere else with all of that onion cutting.
Phoenix: You earned it, man. You fought your way back to this ring and it paid off. Proud of you bro.
Spencer: Thanks. I'm proud of you too. I got my redemption. Now it's your turn.
I look at my title and then back at Spencer.
Phoenix: Yeah....now it's my turn.
This is MY journey
And it will lead to a greater destination than yours, Sam Kidsgrove. You poured your heart out to everyone six months ago. Telling us how 360 days from back then, you would either be gone or you'd have a new contract and HOPEFULLY a world title along with it. You made it sound like you're some kind of noble warrior trying to make one last hoorah before you ride off into the sunset. 'What a brave man he is! Fighting with everything he has left to prove he still belongs!' You're starting to look a lot like Brett Favre in his final year. We're all rooting for you to be happy, but every time we see you go out there, you just get sadder and sadder to watch. A veteran flailing around, desperately trying to hold on to a roster spot that even YOU don't think you deserve anymore. Instead of Slinging Sammy Baugh, you're Swinging Sammy Kidsgrove because you keep trying to hit that last home run, but you just keep swinging and MISSING! Case in point, the US Title. I started the year giving you a chance to earn a shot at it...and you botched it. You spent more time in the matches you fumbled away trying to get it than you did holding the belt when you actually got it. Maybe you should take it as a sign that you've lost a bigger step than you thought.
Uprising is where MY journey takes its next step. While you're sweating it out on day 359 with one foot out the door, wondering if AW will drag you back in, I'll continue to be a cornerstone of this company. Your best quality is that you're a likeable guy with success outside of AW that people can rally behind. Back in 2018 and 2019, you were exactly what this place needed, but now that I'm here and these people have seen just a FRACTION of what I'm capable of....
WE DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE, SAM.
You KNOW it too. You know that WHEN I bring down that briefcase, it'll be another nail in your coffin. The THUNDEROUS standing ovation of the crowd will be the final bell tolling as the sun sets on your ambitious. I'M the one they cheer for now. I'M the workhorse that they put their faith in. I was just as uncertain about my career back in your prime as you are right now as I slowly approach mine. So I'm picking up where you left off, but I'm going further than you ever will. This is more that just a journey for me, Sammy.
This is MY redemption
Not yours, Jill Park. You had yours six days ago. The stars finally aligned for the whiny little 'TV star'. You got everything you wanted. Gold. Recognition. Spotlight. I know what you're thinking. 'Now that I have TWO titles and all of this momentum and confidence, I can finally get my revenge on CJ Phoenix for last year's All-In match. I can finally redeem myself.' I must say as much as I love the city's worth of real estate that I have on your head, all of this animosity you have towards me is just a reflection of the despair that you feel within yourself. You just can't handle being outshined, can you? Even if our roles were reversed and you managed to knock me off that ladder, you would've just been struck in the back by that snake Kyle Kemp. I was the one that everyone KNEW deserved that win, NOT YOU and you HATE me for it! Face it, Jill. You're not mad you didn't win last year. You're mad because I fought you at the top of that ladder and showed everyone that my will is GREATER than yours! And you know what it got me? A chair shot to the back and a front row seat to one of the weakest World Title reigns of all time! I witnessed this company STAGNATE when it should've been SOARING to the STRATOSPHERE! No one said 'WOW! CJ Phoenix held his own against Jill Park on that ladder' because I'm a step ABOVE you....
As a TV star
As a singles wrestler
As a tag team wrestler
As a champion
What you have is NOT a drive for redemption, it's a blind grudge you've been holding for what'll be 364 days Sunday. You talked about me not being able to break through the glass ceiling, but it's the same one that you couldn't even get your dirty little fingernails to scratch the surface of. I had to claw my way BACK to ground zero and EARN the right to shake off the moniker of being some part-timing undercarder. I am the EMBODIMENT of redemption, and Sunday, I'm gonna knock you off your high horse AGAIN. This time when I do it, I'll be taking home the briefcase afterwards.
Spencer and I ran into Adilene, and I chose not to stay long enough for them to start PDAing. I needed answers. I needed to find Vanessa ASAP. So I searched the Arthur Ashe Stadium for what felt like the longest four minutes ever before I found her. She didn't look suspicious when she noticed me. She just smiled and waved.
Vanessa: Hey there, champ! Congratulations on the win.
Phoenix: Thanks.
Vanessa: How are you feeling?
Phoenix: As exhausted as I look.... probably more.
Vanessa: Oh my goose. Go to bed.
Phoenix: Nope. Gotta ask you something first.
Vanessa: Hmm? What's up?
Phoenix: Were you ever a nurse by chance?
Vanessa: A nurse? Does dressing up like one count?
Phoenix: Uhhhh no. Don't think so.
Vanessa: Then no. How come you ask?
Dammit. What's going on here? I know she's not lying. If she were, it would be obvious. So if she's not a nurse.....wait. I have an idea.
Phoenix: I tried to call you a little while back and your voicemail said you're a nurse.
Vanessa shows a look of honest confusion.
Vanessa: Say what?
Phoenix: Listen to this.
I took out my phone and called hers. We watched as the call went to voicemail and the message played again.
"Hey there! You've reached nurse Vanessa Rivers! I'm sorry for missing your call, but if you leave your name and number, I'll be sure to call you back! Have a great day!"
Vanessa: There's no way.... that's definitely my voice, but I don't remember ever setting up voicemail. How is this possible?
Phoenix: I don't know, but I've been having a bunch of weird nightmares all month. Then, I had this weird....memory where I was in some sort of room about to have.... surgery or something? I saw two figures. A man and a woman. And I heard him call her Vanessa. So I had to ask.
Vanessa: That's fair....wait. I keep having these dreams where I'm looking for someone, but I don't know who or why. I don't know if that helps.
Phoenix: It could be helpful. Not sure how yet, but it's possible.
Vanessa: That's good. I could check my room as well the next time I get a chance to.
Phoenix: I'd appreciate that.
Vanessa: No problem.
Phoenix: I'll do the same when I get the chance. For now, I've gotta get some ice on this shoulder.
Vanessa: Yeah, and some rest.
Phoenix: That too.
This is MY game
And unlike you, Regan Voorhees, I'm the MAIN CHARACTER. It's been a while since the same could be said about you, hasn't it? Long gone are the days where you were the Cruiserweight of the year and a terrorizing force to be reckoned with. Now, you're cruising towards the sophomore slump of the year award. A multiple time Cruiserweight champion reduced to an errand girl for Jill Park. You may think this is your shot at returning to relevance, but it's not. It's gonna be another instance of me stomping you out like the goomba that you are on my way to bringing down the flag at the end of the match for the win.
Like your Affluenza associate, you're a prime example of someone with a high floor, but a relatively low ceiling above it. Except in your case, you seem to have fallen through the floor. You've been figured out. You fired every shot in your arsenal last year. Now you have nothing left. On top of that, you continue to singlehandedly sink the reputation of CruiserClash. Those two simp-assisted Cruiserweight Title wins are looking less and less impressive by the day. And now everywhere I go, you run away from because you know I'll outshine you. Jill carried you to the main event scene just for you to fall off. Then she carried you in the tag division...until King Shit sent you both crawling out of the tag division. But let us not dwell on the past. Let's talk about the present and how you've gone from the face of one brand to the ass of the brand that I've become the face of. While you were coasting on your overconfidence, I've been working night and day to home my craft, and now Newton's first law applies to both of us.
A Regan who's been at rest, stays at rest, and falls behind the competition...while a Phoenix in motion, stays in motion...all the way to the All-In briefcase, the World Title, and even further beyond into the future!
This is MY future
You just happen to exist in it, Serenity. Think of it this way. You're the Grizzlies to my Warriors. The Ja Morant to my Steph Curry. We both have skills, but I have experience. I'm battle tested. I've already gone through the bright lights stage. The one that you're going through now where you get these accolades and opportunities and it makes you think you're better than you actually are......until life humbles you and you see what darkness looks like. You spent 105 days basking in the spotlight as Women's Champion, but look at what's happened in the last 60. You're no longer a champion. You couldn't win the title back. You failed against me and Spencer Adams at Meltdown, and you're gonna fail against me AGAIN this Sunday. You consider yourself the future, but THERE IS NO FUTURE WITHOUT THE GROUNDWORK I'VE BEEN LAYING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS! Not just with my wrestling skills, but with things like the Trials of Despair and Hope's Peak Academy. My work speaks for itself, and it'll continue to do so as I claim that briefcase and the World Title that's been meant for me since day one!
This is MY war
A psychological war that you have unfortunately gotten yourself involved in, but you like those kinds of things, right? You like getting into people's heads. Bending their minds to your will. Really getting under someone else's skin. You want so badly to give people nightmares about facing you. I've got some bad news for you, Alice.
I'm used to killing dreams AND nightmares.
I've played this game of psychological warfare with countless people and I've beaten them, including the one that made you tap out less than a week ago. How does it feel to be out-brutalized? What's it like to be at a psychological DISADVANTAGE? Your mind games didn't work against Jill Park on Clash and they won't work against CJ Phoenix at Uprising. I know A LOT about the mind, and how being able to tap into the darkest parts of the human psyche requires you to already be in a dark place mentally. In other words, you're hiding your despair....but I see it clearly. When I crack into the minds of others, I show them the despair within themselves so they can learn from it. You just do it to make others as miserable as you are. You want them to feel as weak and helpless as you are deep down. That's what you're afraid of.
W-E-A-K-N-E-S-S
You're too afraid to face it, so you flaunt a false confidence while trying to bring the world down to your level. Miss me with that bullshit. You're about to to be in a sea of weakness Sunday night. First, you got humiliated a few days back. Now, you're gonna get HUMBLED by the Luminary of Despair when I bring down the briefcase for the win while you're laying on the ground. Just as helpless and weak as you were before. Consider it my gift to you on my way to claiming the World Title.
After Clash ended, I walked back to my car and removed the Tag Team Title from around my waist. I take a moment to stare at the belt and finish processing what happened tonight so that I can start preparing for Sunday. It gave me the urge to take a picture of the title and send it to an old friend with two sentences attached to it.
"Hey, Wesley, this one's for you. I'm sorry that it didn't happen sooner."
"All good man. I appreciate it. You've made a lot of progress since we first met, but I know you won't be satisfied until you get that World Title. Go win that briefcase so that you can get it!"
"Thanks, man. I will!"
That's what we all wanted. Making each other better so that we can ALL stand at the top of the mountain. Kemp got there. Wesley got injured. Dandy got there. Chase went off to OCW. Two up, two down, with me of all people as the tiebreaker.
The Tag Team Title win was for Spencer and Wesley.
The All-In briefcase? The World Title?
I'm winning those for ME. For where I come from and what I've been through, I'm not walking away again. Not before I get there.
No matter what happens....
No matter what it takes....
I'm getting to the top of that mountain...
This is MY opportunity
To do things the RIGHT way, Downfall. I find myself in the same position you were in when the year started. A tag team champion going after the World Title. You held them both, and so can I....so WILL I....but I won't make the mistakes that you did. YOU let that power corrupt you. Ever since you lost the World Title at Revolution, your life is what's taken a downfall. For the last seven months, you've unraveled. You tried to carry too much and it BROKE you! Dion's been trying to hold you together emotionally all this time, but it's become too much even for him now. He doesn't even recognize you anymore.
You've become PATHETIC
The fact that you're in this match is SHAMEFUL. The once noble Vanguard warrior had to resort to underhanded tactics just to beat Johnny Bacchus and qualify for this match. You knew he was about to BEAT YOU, so you got DESPERATE.
You had it all after the first Clash of the year. Now you have NOTHING! No Tag Title, mine, no World Title, soon to be mine, and no morals. You lost one match at Revolution and threw away everything you stood for afterwards.
I won't make that mistake. WHEN I win this match, and WHEN I become World Champion, I'll carry both belts, AND this company, with honor!
You have nothing now but your despair and your disgrace, and after Uprising, I'll have the briefcase while you'll still have NOTHING! This means more to me that anything will ever mean to you!
This is MY vengeance
For the shit you pulled last year, Kyle Kemp! Sunday will mark 364 days since you STOLE what was rightfully mine! I used to be upset Because of what you did that night, but I'm not anymore. I'm more pissed off at what you did afterwards.
NOTHING! You did absolutely NOTHING!
You cashed in at Execution, tapped out at Turmoil, and was back out of the picture by Revolution. All you did was PROVE that you're not WORTHY of holding the Mjölnir of Action Wrestling that is the World Title. Just you being back in this match supports my point. In the last twelve months, I'VE become the main eventer while YOU'VE fallen back to the middle of the pack where you know you belong! It's comical seeing you crawling back to this match again. NEEDING the briefcase to ambush somebody with because that's the ONLY way you can get shit done. "I'm better than everyone!" You love to say, yet you'd rather sneak in as many cheap shots as you can because you're afraid to face the people that are ACTUALLY better than you!
You DEVALUED the All-In briefcase, and I'm not letting you do it twice! How does it feel to know that not even the golden ticket to the highest echelon could carry you to being a true main eventer? I guarantee it won't hurt you NEARLY as bad as it will when I become the World Champion that you WISH you could've been! A champion that can raise AW's Mjölnir proudly and electrify the world with his mere presence! You're a snake in the grass, but I'm about to burn the whole field down Sunday and rise from the ashes of what used to be my opponents.
This is MY Uprising
And it's perfect that you'll be there to witness it, Teo. After all, the shoe's on the other foot now. No one's presence is a better example of my progress than yours. You're CruiserClash's most decorated wrestler. Five Cruiserweight Tag Title reigns. Four Cruiserweight Title runs to go with them. You're a man of the people. A champion of the people even. But here's the thing that you've never been able to get out of your mind no matter how much you try to repress it....
The people love ME more
And they always have. Remember how we teamed up a few times back in WCF and people were ready to preorder "Blazing Phoenix" merch? You, the crafty man of the people and me, the lovable, starryeyed rookie with untapped potential. I lacked knowledge back then. I was just winging it, not knowing that I could be doing much better. I'd argue that you were the first person that saw my potential...maybe even before I did. You had a chance to be a true mentor and be a part of the greatest development ever. Instead, my potential scared you to the point that you stood there and watched me struggle. You believed yourself too good to be seen with me. You watched me drown to death, but now that I've risen, I'VE become too good for YOU to keep up with!
I wasn't born into this sport and I wasn't tearing it up in the indies or any developmental programs. I walked into that ring and I fell. Repeatedly. Sure I won a title in WCF, but for the most part, my career wasn't impressive. I wasn't consistent. I wasn't the future of anything. Even when Action Wrestling started in 2018, I was there year one. I wrestled four matches that year and none in 2019. For most people, that's a career death sentence. Just another no-name with five minutes of glory and the rest of it being forgettable shame. I heard all the time about how much of a 'failure' I am and how I can't win this and can't win that. I've heard that bullshit for FIVE YEARS and yet my very EXISTENCE in this company proves them wrong!
My career was DEAD....and I brought it back to LIFE! How many other people can say that they walked into the ring after a two year absence and nothing truly noteworthy to their name and fought their way up to the top!? ZERO! People talk about me not being able to break the glass ceiling when there was a time where I couldn't even get off the ground! I could've given up completely like so many people that lose all hope, but I didn't. I FOUGHT MY WAY TO WHERE I AM NOW! THOSE PEOPLE DON'T JUST CHEER FOR ME BECAUSE I'M A GREAT WRESTLER! THEY RALLY BEHIND ME BECAUSE I DID WHAT NOBODY THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE! I'M NOT JUST A MIRACLE SECOND WIND, I AM PROOF OF DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE!
NOBODY HAS MORE HEART THAN ME!
NOBODY HAS MORE DETERMINATION THAN ME!
NOBODY HAS MORE RESOLVE THAN ME!
I KNOW I WASN'T THE BEST WRESTLER WHEN I FIRST SIGNED A CONTRACT, BUT I'VE WORKED MY ASS OFF TO BE A BETTER WRESTLER, HUSBAND, PERSON, LEADER, AND INSPIRATION THAN ANYONE THOUGHT I COULD BE!
THIS SUNDAY, I'M TAKING HOME MY BRIEFCASE! I'M GONNA USE IT TO WIN MY WORLD TITLE IN MY COMPANY IN FRONT OF AND FOR ALL OF MY PEOPLE!!
