Post by Teo Blaze on Mar 31, 2024 0:54:19 GMT -5
In the quiet moments before the storm, a hushed anticipation hangs heavy in the air, a palpable tension that crackles with electricity. Far from the bright lights and roaring crowds of the arena, the stage is set for a different kind of spectacle—a battle of wills, words, and egos. In the darkened hallway, just behind the set, Teo inhaled deeply, feeling now more than ever the weight of the championship on his shoulder.
It was hard to explain, it felt lighter somehow. Maybe he was getting used to the weight of the championship. Or maybe…
“Ladies! Gentlemen! Friends and Everyone else in that technicolor rainbow, do we have a show for you tonight!! Here, in the audio-visual arena, the reigning Action Wrestling champion, Teo Blaze, and his challenger, Odin Balfore, find themselves on the precipice of destiny!”
Welp. No time to think about that…it was showtime.
The unfamiliar voice is accompanied by a large, elaborate logo.The show fades into a lavishly decorated guest, where a finely suited host is carefully organizing a stack of papers. He looks into the camera with a winning smile, surely as carefully tailored as the suit that adorns his shoulders.
“Hello and good evening, I am Chase Sterling, your host and master of ceremonies for tonight’s broadcast. Welcome to "Before the Bell: Teo Blaze vs. Odin Balfore - Clash of Titans," where the drama unfolds not in the arena, but in those quiet moments before the storm, where legends are born and destinies are forged in the crucible of competition.
And my probing, personal questions will seek to turn our guest upside down, and what a guest we have with us tonight, none other than Action Wrestling Royalty! You knew him as the face of Cruiserclash, and you loved him as one-half of the Two Gents, the unquestionably most successful tag team to ever do it in Action Wrestling, but get ready to embrace him as your World Champion, Mr. Teo Blaze!!”
That was the cue. Teo pushed the curtain open and flashed the same winning smile that Chase had worn moments ago, the studio audience lighting up as Teo turns and flashes a few well-practiced gestures, posing for a picture.
The flashing lights reflecting off the red lenses was nothing new to him, but there was something in the energy, something different. But he walked to his host, offering a firm handshake before taking the assigned seat.
“Teo, my man! How good to see you here in the studio! I hope that the fans are treating you well!”
“They can treat me however they want, Chase, the fans put me where they are, and woe to the man that forgets that.”
“Well said, my friend. So! Let’s get down to it, shall we? Odin Balfore. Talk about no rest for the weary- merely days removed from a successful title defense and you’re being thrown in the ring with the Last Avenger!”
“Hold on Chase, let me stop you right there.”
Teo reaches over and grabs the top sheet from Chase’s notes, turning it towards the camera so the audience can see.
“I don’t give a shit what new nickname Odin has cooked up for himself, don’t for one instant be fooled. The man comes up with nicknames like you or I shop for clothes, slipping in and out of one persona after another like a snake shedding its skin. It’s a midlife crisis made manifest is what it is, donning another nickname every time he manages to drum up the motivation to show up on the broadcast.
Stagnation thy name is Odin, the man is a broken record in more ways than one, and the age is starting to catch up with him if you’re asking me."
Chase raises an eyebrow, his tone shifting subtly.
"But Teo, let's not forget the power Odin Balfore wields. He's not just another opponent. He's a force to be reckoned with—a man who's left a trail of broken bodies in his wake. Are you truly prepared to face someone of his caliber?"
Teo's demeanor shifts, his eyes narrowing as a flicker of irritation crosses his features.
"Caliber? Please, Chase. The only thing Odin Balfore is good at is running his mouth and throwing his weight around. But when it comes to skill, technique, and raw talent, he's sorely lacking. He may have size on his side, but in the ring, it's not about how big you are, it's about how smart you fight.
And fighting smart? Come on! Odin Balfore wrestles like a bull charging at a cape, all piss and vinegar, relying on brute force to carry the day! Odin would tell you that standing in front of him is like trying to stop a bulldozer, but if you ask anybody besides Odin himself, they’ll let you know how quickly that illusion gives way the first time a skilled bullfighter makes him look like a fool."
Chase nods slowly, though there's a hint of skepticism in his expression.
"But what about Odin's unpredictability? He's known for pulling off some surprising maneuvers, catching his opponents off guard. Are you confident you can handle whatever he throws your way?"
Teo's lips curl into a sneer, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Unpredictability? More like desperation, if you ask me. Odin Balfore may try to play the mind games, but I've seen it all before. Odin Balfore will tell you that you’ve never faced anyone like him, that he is a one-of-a-kind talent, but give me a god. Damned. Break. Odin will think he’s got me pegged, figured me out, that he’s more than a brute, that he plays mind games.
Chase, if Odin Balfore is trying to play mind games, he brought checkers to a chess match, damn, I think he’s even playing tic-tac-toe.
You think that you can intimidate me All-Father? You think you’re inevitable? You certainly seemed to think so in your challenge to Tatiana."
Teo chuckles now, as though the punchline to a particularly funny joke has just crossed his mind. He holds his hands out, letting the moment hang in the air before continuing.
“So confident you have Teo Blaze figured out, so certain that you know who I am- and yet Odin, for all your claims of mind games, for all your assurances you have Teo Blaze figured out, you still haven’t gotten it through that coke addled piece of granite you call a head that Teo Blaze does not get intimidated!
That’s like thing goddamned one that people know about Teo Blaze!
I do not fear you, big man, hell, I barely respect you. I’m not saying that you didn’t earn your spot to be here, I’m not even saying that you haven’t made a career to be proud of, but I’m saying every time I start to say to myself ‘hey, this Odin guy might be worth taking seriously’ you shoot that damn mouth off again and character assassinate yourself!
You seem to have missed the memo, Odin, maybe while you were out partying, or talking up some piece of ass instead of going to the gym, but I am not the same fighter you used to know! And unlike you, I don’t have to come up with some ludicrous nickname to prove it. I am not ‘the Lucha Icon’ or ‘the People’s Champion’, I am and I always have been Teo. Goddamned. Blaze.
Maybe you’ve heard of me.”
Chase nods, though his expression remains guarded.
"Well, Teo, it sounds like you're more than confident in your abilities. But let's not forget that Odin Balfore is a formidable opponent, and he'll stop at nothing to claim your title. Are you prepared for the fight of your life?"
"The fight of my life? Chase, every time I step into that ring, it's the fight of my life. Every opponent knows in their heart of hearts that they’ve figured me out, that they’ve put together the perfect formula to finally dethrone Teo Blaze.
Because that can’t be all there is to him, can it?
Teo Blaze has to have some kind of dark secret, some kind of weakness to exploit, some kind of lie he’s telling. His success can’t just all genuinely be hard work and dedication! There’s a trick, a motive, a smokescreen!
Odin Balfore seems to think so, after all. And he’s the latest in a long line of names that is going to ‘expose’ Teo Blaze as who he really is. Pull back the curtain to reveal the little man pulling the levers to the world.
Because they can’t accept that Teo Blaze is the real deal, and has been since day fuckin’ one.
Every single opponent has looked me in the eye and told me that I cannot do it, Balfore. You think you’re special just because you do it with slurred speech?
You’re a cocky prick with an ego bigger than his bicep selling an image of greatness past its expiration date. The Great and Powerful Oz, complete with smoke and mirrors! Hell, you might even look good with a green singlet.”
Teo winks at Chase momentarily.
“Look, brass tacks Chase. Odin Balfore may think he's a god, but in the ring, he's just another man. And when it comes down to it, I'll show him why I'm the true champion of Action Wrestling."
With that, the tension in the room seems to ratchet up another notch, the air crackling with anticipation for the impending clash between Teo Blaze and Odin Balfore. Chase gives Teo a nod of acknowledgment before turning back to the camera, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Well, there you have it, folks. The stage is set for what promises to be an electrifying showdown between two of the biggest names in wrestling. Will Teo Blaze continue his reign as champion, or will Odin Balfore prove to be the one to dethrone him? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates as the drama unfolds. Until then, this is Chase Sterling signing off!"
The cameras have stopped now, and Teo finds himself back in the dressing room, standing before a full length mirror. He considers the appearance, the dark red duster jacket over one of the original #2Gents T-shirts, the large gold belt gleaming under the fluorescent lights of the dressing room.
It was still his.
The World around his Waist. The prize that made him a marked man. The huge gold letters against that beautiful blue backdrop.
It was everything he ever wanted. And the longer he stared, the more the feeling grew. The desire, the pull, the feeling that he would cave in the skull of anyone who ever tried to take it away from him.
That pull that so many had felt moments before they became compromised.
Before they sold a part of themselves to feel it just one more moment.
It was a high.
And he wasn’t ready to come down.
“I want to respect you, Odin.”
Teo is standing now in a new location, away from the flashing cameras and cheering fans. The sweltering heat of a desert somewhere in the Southwest, lined with wilting cacti and dotted with the bones of lesser beasts who had succumbed to the harsh conditions.
Home.
“I see everything you’ve done across your years Odin. Your longevity, your success, your championships, and I want to say that you deserve to be called one of the best to ever do it.
But you just. won’t. let. me.
Every time you crush someone who should never have been in the ring with you and throw them out like a piece of garbage, every time you sit on a throne of gold, or ice, or space, every time you hold out your hands like a child demanding to be acknowledged.
You remind me of just how hollow it all is. Odin Balfore is an idea, a concept, a belief.
But I have never believed. I have only ever seen the man. The man who flexes his mighty muscles, threatens to bring about Ragnarok, and hurls vile insults to anyone who does not kowtow to the myth that is Odin Balfore.
Because just like your namesake, that is what you are, nothing but a myth. And just like your namesake, Odin, myths die."
Teo continues, his voice carrying the weight of years of frustration and determination.
"They crumble under the weight of truth and reality. And the reality is, Odin Balfore, that you're not as invincible as you think you are."
He pauses, letting the words sink in before he continues, his tone unwavering.
"You may have built yourself up as a god among men, but gods can fall just as easily as anyone else. All it takes is the right man in the right moment to stand up to the deceit.
You are a Fraud, Balfore, and the world knows it. For every victory you earn, for every tournament you win, that credibility is squandered instantly in pursuit of this dream.
To be recognized, acknowledged as an Avenger, a God, a King!
Well here’s a little secret, Odin. Anyone who demands to be recognized as a King is no King.”
Teo's eyes burn with intensity as he stares directly into the camera, his meaning clear and unmistakable.
"So, Odin Balfore, enjoy your time in the spotlight again while you can. Because when it's all said and done, the only thing people will remember is that Teo Blaze stood tall as the true champion, while Odin once again demanded that people call it a fluke when someone proved him as mortal as the rest of us.
Because I have never once asked to be called a king. A god. An icon. The Heart and Soul of this company.
Others have given those titles to me, “All-Father” and I have worn them with pride.
But do you know what Teo Blaze is, Odin? Because it’s something more powerful than you can comprehend. Something that even Gods cower before.
Teo Blaze is a symbol. The name Teo Blaze means something, not because of this belt around my shoulder, not because of the countless victories I have had in this company, not because I carried shows on my back when you were nowhere to be seen Odin, no!
Teo Blaze is a symbol because I have devoted every ounce of my being to this sport. To this company. And yes, to this championship.
You can not say the same, Odin. At least, not with any sense of honest reason.
You want the name Odin Balfore to strike fear in the hearts of lesser men.
I want to be something they aspire to.
You would invoke Ragnarok, the end of the world, destruction.
I invoke hope.
There is one thing that you are right about, though, Odin. We are not the same.
In fact we couldn't be more different. While you seek to tear down, to dominate, and to rule with an iron fist, I strive to uplift, to inspire, and to lead by example. And in the end, it's not about who can shout the loudest or who can strike the hardest—it's about who can stand tall when the dust settles, who can look themselves in the mirror and know that they've fought with honor and integrity.
So, Odin Balfore, when we step into that ring, know this: I'm not just fighting for myself, or for this championship. I'm fighting for every wrestler who's ever dreamed of making it to the top, for every fan who's ever cheered my name, and for every person who's ever believed in what I stand for.
You only fight for yourself, and you will only have yourself to blame when that bell rings.
And when that final bell tolls, when the dust settles and the smoke clears, it won't be the size of your muscles or the volume of your voice that determines the winner—it'll be the size of your heart and the strength of your spirit.
So bring your best, Odin Balfore, because I'm ready for whatever you throw my way. And when all is said and done, when the battle is over and the victor is crowned, one thing will remain true:
Teo Blaze will stand tall as the one true champion of Action Wrestling.
With that, Teo turns away from the camera, his gaze once again focused on the championship belt hanging on the wall. He reaches out and traces a finger along its gleaming surface, a sense of determination coursing through him.
"I won't let you take this from me, Odin," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not now, not ever. I'll fight with every ounce of strength and willpower I have to ensure that this championship stays right where it belongs—around my waist."
His eyes fall upon the bones scattered over the desert, those who had fallen before him, succumbed to the heat.
But as he closes his eyes, he felt the weight of the world upon him, the eyes of the people on his back, the roar of the millions chanting his name, asking him to do the impossible once again.
He had made a career of out of doing the impossible, after all.
And isn’t it impossible to wrestle with god?
His eyes opened, the thought bringing a genuine smile across his lips as he looked across the sun-bleached sands and the wide open blue sky.
And when he felt that feeling, heard those cries of joy, those cheers of rejoicing, the belief that so many had in him.
He didn’t even feel the heat at all.
And with that thought, he walked into the desert, whistling a familiar tune as the scene faded to black.
It was hard to explain, it felt lighter somehow. Maybe he was getting used to the weight of the championship. Or maybe…
“Ladies! Gentlemen! Friends and Everyone else in that technicolor rainbow, do we have a show for you tonight!! Here, in the audio-visual arena, the reigning Action Wrestling champion, Teo Blaze, and his challenger, Odin Balfore, find themselves on the precipice of destiny!”
Welp. No time to think about that…it was showtime.
The unfamiliar voice is accompanied by a large, elaborate logo.The show fades into a lavishly decorated guest, where a finely suited host is carefully organizing a stack of papers. He looks into the camera with a winning smile, surely as carefully tailored as the suit that adorns his shoulders.
“Hello and good evening, I am Chase Sterling, your host and master of ceremonies for tonight’s broadcast. Welcome to "Before the Bell: Teo Blaze vs. Odin Balfore - Clash of Titans," where the drama unfolds not in the arena, but in those quiet moments before the storm, where legends are born and destinies are forged in the crucible of competition.
And my probing, personal questions will seek to turn our guest upside down, and what a guest we have with us tonight, none other than Action Wrestling Royalty! You knew him as the face of Cruiserclash, and you loved him as one-half of the Two Gents, the unquestionably most successful tag team to ever do it in Action Wrestling, but get ready to embrace him as your World Champion, Mr. Teo Blaze!!”
That was the cue. Teo pushed the curtain open and flashed the same winning smile that Chase had worn moments ago, the studio audience lighting up as Teo turns and flashes a few well-practiced gestures, posing for a picture.
The flashing lights reflecting off the red lenses was nothing new to him, but there was something in the energy, something different. But he walked to his host, offering a firm handshake before taking the assigned seat.
“Teo, my man! How good to see you here in the studio! I hope that the fans are treating you well!”
“They can treat me however they want, Chase, the fans put me where they are, and woe to the man that forgets that.”
“Well said, my friend. So! Let’s get down to it, shall we? Odin Balfore. Talk about no rest for the weary- merely days removed from a successful title defense and you’re being thrown in the ring with the Last Avenger!”
“Hold on Chase, let me stop you right there.”
Teo reaches over and grabs the top sheet from Chase’s notes, turning it towards the camera so the audience can see.
“I don’t give a shit what new nickname Odin has cooked up for himself, don’t for one instant be fooled. The man comes up with nicknames like you or I shop for clothes, slipping in and out of one persona after another like a snake shedding its skin. It’s a midlife crisis made manifest is what it is, donning another nickname every time he manages to drum up the motivation to show up on the broadcast.
Stagnation thy name is Odin, the man is a broken record in more ways than one, and the age is starting to catch up with him if you’re asking me."
Chase raises an eyebrow, his tone shifting subtly.
"But Teo, let's not forget the power Odin Balfore wields. He's not just another opponent. He's a force to be reckoned with—a man who's left a trail of broken bodies in his wake. Are you truly prepared to face someone of his caliber?"
Teo's demeanor shifts, his eyes narrowing as a flicker of irritation crosses his features.
"Caliber? Please, Chase. The only thing Odin Balfore is good at is running his mouth and throwing his weight around. But when it comes to skill, technique, and raw talent, he's sorely lacking. He may have size on his side, but in the ring, it's not about how big you are, it's about how smart you fight.
And fighting smart? Come on! Odin Balfore wrestles like a bull charging at a cape, all piss and vinegar, relying on brute force to carry the day! Odin would tell you that standing in front of him is like trying to stop a bulldozer, but if you ask anybody besides Odin himself, they’ll let you know how quickly that illusion gives way the first time a skilled bullfighter makes him look like a fool."
Chase nods slowly, though there's a hint of skepticism in his expression.
"But what about Odin's unpredictability? He's known for pulling off some surprising maneuvers, catching his opponents off guard. Are you confident you can handle whatever he throws your way?"
Teo's lips curl into a sneer, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Unpredictability? More like desperation, if you ask me. Odin Balfore may try to play the mind games, but I've seen it all before. Odin Balfore will tell you that you’ve never faced anyone like him, that he is a one-of-a-kind talent, but give me a god. Damned. Break. Odin will think he’s got me pegged, figured me out, that he’s more than a brute, that he plays mind games.
Chase, if Odin Balfore is trying to play mind games, he brought checkers to a chess match, damn, I think he’s even playing tic-tac-toe.
You think that you can intimidate me All-Father? You think you’re inevitable? You certainly seemed to think so in your challenge to Tatiana."
Teo chuckles now, as though the punchline to a particularly funny joke has just crossed his mind. He holds his hands out, letting the moment hang in the air before continuing.
“So confident you have Teo Blaze figured out, so certain that you know who I am- and yet Odin, for all your claims of mind games, for all your assurances you have Teo Blaze figured out, you still haven’t gotten it through that coke addled piece of granite you call a head that Teo Blaze does not get intimidated!
That’s like thing goddamned one that people know about Teo Blaze!
I do not fear you, big man, hell, I barely respect you. I’m not saying that you didn’t earn your spot to be here, I’m not even saying that you haven’t made a career to be proud of, but I’m saying every time I start to say to myself ‘hey, this Odin guy might be worth taking seriously’ you shoot that damn mouth off again and character assassinate yourself!
You seem to have missed the memo, Odin, maybe while you were out partying, or talking up some piece of ass instead of going to the gym, but I am not the same fighter you used to know! And unlike you, I don’t have to come up with some ludicrous nickname to prove it. I am not ‘the Lucha Icon’ or ‘the People’s Champion’, I am and I always have been Teo. Goddamned. Blaze.
Maybe you’ve heard of me.”
Chase nods, though his expression remains guarded.
"Well, Teo, it sounds like you're more than confident in your abilities. But let's not forget that Odin Balfore is a formidable opponent, and he'll stop at nothing to claim your title. Are you prepared for the fight of your life?"
"The fight of my life? Chase, every time I step into that ring, it's the fight of my life. Every opponent knows in their heart of hearts that they’ve figured me out, that they’ve put together the perfect formula to finally dethrone Teo Blaze.
Because that can’t be all there is to him, can it?
Teo Blaze has to have some kind of dark secret, some kind of weakness to exploit, some kind of lie he’s telling. His success can’t just all genuinely be hard work and dedication! There’s a trick, a motive, a smokescreen!
Odin Balfore seems to think so, after all. And he’s the latest in a long line of names that is going to ‘expose’ Teo Blaze as who he really is. Pull back the curtain to reveal the little man pulling the levers to the world.
Because they can’t accept that Teo Blaze is the real deal, and has been since day fuckin’ one.
Every single opponent has looked me in the eye and told me that I cannot do it, Balfore. You think you’re special just because you do it with slurred speech?
You’re a cocky prick with an ego bigger than his bicep selling an image of greatness past its expiration date. The Great and Powerful Oz, complete with smoke and mirrors! Hell, you might even look good with a green singlet.”
Teo winks at Chase momentarily.
“Look, brass tacks Chase. Odin Balfore may think he's a god, but in the ring, he's just another man. And when it comes down to it, I'll show him why I'm the true champion of Action Wrestling."
With that, the tension in the room seems to ratchet up another notch, the air crackling with anticipation for the impending clash between Teo Blaze and Odin Balfore. Chase gives Teo a nod of acknowledgment before turning back to the camera, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Well, there you have it, folks. The stage is set for what promises to be an electrifying showdown between two of the biggest names in wrestling. Will Teo Blaze continue his reign as champion, or will Odin Balfore prove to be the one to dethrone him? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates as the drama unfolds. Until then, this is Chase Sterling signing off!"
---
The cameras have stopped now, and Teo finds himself back in the dressing room, standing before a full length mirror. He considers the appearance, the dark red duster jacket over one of the original #2Gents T-shirts, the large gold belt gleaming under the fluorescent lights of the dressing room.
It was still his.
The World around his Waist. The prize that made him a marked man. The huge gold letters against that beautiful blue backdrop.
It was everything he ever wanted. And the longer he stared, the more the feeling grew. The desire, the pull, the feeling that he would cave in the skull of anyone who ever tried to take it away from him.
That pull that so many had felt moments before they became compromised.
Before they sold a part of themselves to feel it just one more moment.
It was a high.
And he wasn’t ready to come down.
---
“I want to respect you, Odin.”
Teo is standing now in a new location, away from the flashing cameras and cheering fans. The sweltering heat of a desert somewhere in the Southwest, lined with wilting cacti and dotted with the bones of lesser beasts who had succumbed to the harsh conditions.
Home.
“I see everything you’ve done across your years Odin. Your longevity, your success, your championships, and I want to say that you deserve to be called one of the best to ever do it.
But you just. won’t. let. me.
Every time you crush someone who should never have been in the ring with you and throw them out like a piece of garbage, every time you sit on a throne of gold, or ice, or space, every time you hold out your hands like a child demanding to be acknowledged.
You remind me of just how hollow it all is. Odin Balfore is an idea, a concept, a belief.
But I have never believed. I have only ever seen the man. The man who flexes his mighty muscles, threatens to bring about Ragnarok, and hurls vile insults to anyone who does not kowtow to the myth that is Odin Balfore.
Because just like your namesake, that is what you are, nothing but a myth. And just like your namesake, Odin, myths die."
Teo continues, his voice carrying the weight of years of frustration and determination.
"They crumble under the weight of truth and reality. And the reality is, Odin Balfore, that you're not as invincible as you think you are."
He pauses, letting the words sink in before he continues, his tone unwavering.
"You may have built yourself up as a god among men, but gods can fall just as easily as anyone else. All it takes is the right man in the right moment to stand up to the deceit.
You are a Fraud, Balfore, and the world knows it. For every victory you earn, for every tournament you win, that credibility is squandered instantly in pursuit of this dream.
To be recognized, acknowledged as an Avenger, a God, a King!
Well here’s a little secret, Odin. Anyone who demands to be recognized as a King is no King.”
Teo's eyes burn with intensity as he stares directly into the camera, his meaning clear and unmistakable.
"So, Odin Balfore, enjoy your time in the spotlight again while you can. Because when it's all said and done, the only thing people will remember is that Teo Blaze stood tall as the true champion, while Odin once again demanded that people call it a fluke when someone proved him as mortal as the rest of us.
Because I have never once asked to be called a king. A god. An icon. The Heart and Soul of this company.
Others have given those titles to me, “All-Father” and I have worn them with pride.
But do you know what Teo Blaze is, Odin? Because it’s something more powerful than you can comprehend. Something that even Gods cower before.
Teo Blaze is a symbol. The name Teo Blaze means something, not because of this belt around my shoulder, not because of the countless victories I have had in this company, not because I carried shows on my back when you were nowhere to be seen Odin, no!
Teo Blaze is a symbol because I have devoted every ounce of my being to this sport. To this company. And yes, to this championship.
You can not say the same, Odin. At least, not with any sense of honest reason.
You want the name Odin Balfore to strike fear in the hearts of lesser men.
I want to be something they aspire to.
You would invoke Ragnarok, the end of the world, destruction.
I invoke hope.
There is one thing that you are right about, though, Odin. We are not the same.
In fact we couldn't be more different. While you seek to tear down, to dominate, and to rule with an iron fist, I strive to uplift, to inspire, and to lead by example. And in the end, it's not about who can shout the loudest or who can strike the hardest—it's about who can stand tall when the dust settles, who can look themselves in the mirror and know that they've fought with honor and integrity.
So, Odin Balfore, when we step into that ring, know this: I'm not just fighting for myself, or for this championship. I'm fighting for every wrestler who's ever dreamed of making it to the top, for every fan who's ever cheered my name, and for every person who's ever believed in what I stand for.
You only fight for yourself, and you will only have yourself to blame when that bell rings.
And when that final bell tolls, when the dust settles and the smoke clears, it won't be the size of your muscles or the volume of your voice that determines the winner—it'll be the size of your heart and the strength of your spirit.
So bring your best, Odin Balfore, because I'm ready for whatever you throw my way. And when all is said and done, when the battle is over and the victor is crowned, one thing will remain true:
Teo Blaze will stand tall as the one true champion of Action Wrestling.
With that, Teo turns away from the camera, his gaze once again focused on the championship belt hanging on the wall. He reaches out and traces a finger along its gleaming surface, a sense of determination coursing through him.
"I won't let you take this from me, Odin," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not now, not ever. I'll fight with every ounce of strength and willpower I have to ensure that this championship stays right where it belongs—around my waist."
His eyes fall upon the bones scattered over the desert, those who had fallen before him, succumbed to the heat.
But as he closes his eyes, he felt the weight of the world upon him, the eyes of the people on his back, the roar of the millions chanting his name, asking him to do the impossible once again.
He had made a career of out of doing the impossible, after all.
And isn’t it impossible to wrestle with god?
His eyes opened, the thought bringing a genuine smile across his lips as he looked across the sun-bleached sands and the wide open blue sky.
And when he felt that feeling, heard those cries of joy, those cheers of rejoicing, the belief that so many had in him.
He didn’t even feel the heat at all.
And with that thought, he walked into the desert, whistling a familiar tune as the scene faded to black.
