A.S.H.W.G.A
Aug 8, 2024 16:40:48 GMT -5
“The Workhorse” Johnny Eden, Frank Venable, and 1 more like this
Post by Spencer Adams on Aug 8, 2024 16:40:48 GMT -5
I never thought this would happen.
and yet..
Here we are.
The more time that has passed, the more I came to believe that certain things were off the table. The place that I’d come to claim as my stomping grounds, a domain that saw my initials carved into tree bark outside every venue ADub ever had occupied..it wasn’t mine anymore. No.. not because of the rebrand that hit the refresh button on everything the company was and ever had been with the objective of attaching phoenix feather to the blue and yellow’s floundering value on Wall Street, but because the one at the helm made it loud and clear that the promotion was moving in a different direction.
Moving past Spencer Adams.
I could’ve been bitter, chosen to etch the man’s name into a Death Note and sat back with fingers crossed in hopes of “something happening”. Maybe I would’ve been justified in making myself red in the face over the fact that the dipshit with the checkbook thought the top merch mover and star rating scale breaker needed to be pushed aside in favor of Park and her shitty faux-boxer boyfriend. Instead, I gave a little pat to the chip on my shoulder and strapped in for a world tour that took me through anywhere and everywhere worth a shit in the wrestling world. I won WarGames, fantasy matchups, and nabbed a pair of world title reigns for good measure. I grew my star out of spite, took negative energy and flipped it to a positive.
Which brings me to you, Bridgeport.
I’ve watched more empires crumble than I can count, saw myself outlast and outgrow the careers of many a failed big leaguer whose own star power ironically dims and leaves the taste of scat on viewers’ tongues in comparison. While it’s been just under a year and a half, I milked a lifetime of moments out of those months spent away from you all and as I look out on this thing that’s been restructured in better faith and fresher direction, a place where the walls have been brought down..I feel that itch growing and that little voice getting louder. It’s a voice that’s telling me this story can’t end, because some other fucking jay-brone wants to try writing MY final chapter.
At Apex 5, we renewed.
At Apex 6?
I hope you’re all ready for the next episode.
Andre: How you feeling lately?
Spencer: Physically or mentally?
Andre: Pick your poison, brother.
Spencer: Tired, worn down. Nothing out of the ordinary.
This was a partial truth. Since my last outing in XWF, one that saw me slung against cage walls with reckless abandon by a challenger laser focused on inflicting injury as a minimum, there’s been a sort of internal brand just under my skin with muscles that ache with phantom indentation. Recovery was quick and smooth enough, but tenderness persisted. Maybe it was inactivity? It had been a number of weeks since I’d laced them up. Perhaps my adrenal glands were in need of a stroll around the squared circle in exchange for that lost comfort.
Spencer: You miss it?
Andre: Everyday.
His response was swift and dry as Andre Holmes, the man decorated by gold a trillion times over in our business, tipped the bore of a San Pellegrino against his lips and took the kind of sober swig signature to a formerly hypercompetitive turned not-so-part time gym rat. Out on his back patio, with Summer humidity preheating against our hides, sparkling water had him plopped firmly into his creature comfort era.
I offer up a lighthearted smirk and a shrug with both brows.
Andre: Now, if you ask Serenity? Might get a different answer.
Spencer: I think mine have at least a few years before I get hit with the same.
Andre: Don’t worry, you’ll have a Serenity of your own before you know it.
Spencer: I just talked to her the other day, actually.
Andre: Yeah?
Spencer: Yeah, thinking about a team up.
Andre: Man..and this is the first I’m hearing about this?
Spencer: It’s a handful of us. There’s been buzz around DPW.
Andre: The Action rebrand?
Spencer: They’ve been feeling out interest levels lately. Us two, Frank, Claire, and CJ.
Andre: Damn…Hell of a lineup.
Spencer: Honestly, I’m ready to lead something. Chance to work with old faces, help guide some new ones. I know she’s accomplished in her own right by this point.
Andre: Hey, don’t think you need my permission. Trust is the default.
Spencer: Don’t worry, I’ll keep the chase off stick with me for anyone looking to be the next Holde-
He lifts a forefinger up between us, forcing a halt in dialogue.
Spencer: Sorry, Pops.
Down goes one erect digit, giving spotlight to a lighthearted yet defiant middle one to take its place.
Spencer: Well..kinda. I bought a bus.
“Wait a minute, get it how you live it
Ten toes in when we standin' on business
I'm a big stepper, underground methods
Top-notch hoes get the most, not the lesser”
So poetic that it’s you, Teo.
Our pitches essentially brought the same direction from both sides. DPW management came to us as individuals as they sought after a moment that would create more, though what I’m sure they didn’t expect was the sort of five in one package deal that was The Originals to fall into their lap as quickly and effortlessly as it did. With the five of us, we recognized an opportunity to come together and do something that would define and set into motion not just the next era in Discovery Pro, but set a certain standard for every era that follows.
Fast forward to show number zero zero six.
A “Welcome Home Match” nestled snug in its co-main event jammies.
..because maybe you should.
Why then is this the abridged version of “The Spencer Adams match starring Spencer Adams”?
Why are you the feature within the headline?
I’m not here to disparage you and I don’t feel management is either, but even if not intentional, the billboards and flyers are already paid for. It might be a bit too melodramatic to call it “damage done”, but the narrative is pretty firm. While I have no doubts about your ability to play the spoiler and flip the headline on its dome, there’s still the matter of the lead up to that opening bell and whatever rocky face there is to traverse mentally for Teo Blaze and the question I’m here to toss into the conversation is how will you respond?
Will you use the return of Spencer Adams as a stepping stone back to the world title?
..or..
Are you going to allow me to keep you on the right hand side of “vs.”?
Oh, I’m goddamn lethal.
Chicago.
The UCI Warehouse.
In the days since the launch of United Championship Infinite, a well funded upstart with grassroots DNA in the rich and prideful heart of Southside Chi town, I’d kept the property paid largely as a storage facility. At the start, it served as the residency for the company’s earlier shows before securing a more mainstream network deal that would help propel stars of tomorrow like Kevin Bishop, Andre Holmes, or Celeste Mallory among many others. While short lived, it played the part of the much needed bridge from one era to the next and here among stacks of chairs and dust covered banners, that spirit laid dormant while letting its history be known.
Serenity: Thanks for the belief.
Spencer: Oh, it’s always been there.
Serenity: I do want to ask though..where are the others?
Spencer: We’re picking them up at the hotel.
Serenity: We are?
Spencer: Well, there’s one part I haven’t told you about yet.
She tilts her head back and to a mild right, inquisition plastered over her as I reached down to the lock keeping the door in place.
Fumbling with the lock, I feel the build up of the moment in my gut as it pops open and I catch hold of the mechanism to lift it open.
As the door lifts, the bus goes on full display. The slick blue paint job and the scratchy textures of the “OG” logo displayed proudly across the side were here waiting for us.
WE were here.
