Post by Lockhart on Nov 2, 2018 20:57:28 GMT -5
10/09/18 - One Day After The Attack on Torture.
The screen is filled with the shaky, blurred image perpetuated by a handheld camera, which points directly to the face of Ryan Lockhart. Sweat runs down his face and drips from his chin, as his brows furrow inward and the rest of his face forms into a scowl of disgust.
‘When I look out into the federation currently surrounding me, I see a group of men with no conviction, no heart, and no determination. One after another, they come running through that curtain trying to make something of themselves, prove that they belong here, and that they have a place in a federation that I helped build with my hard work, week after week.’
He sharply inhales, and then lets out a deep exhale.
‘I have put on performances of a lifetime against some of the best this federation has had to offer, and out of my sixteen matches? I have came out on top on fifteen of those occasions. Losing is something that doesn’t happen often to me, and that’s not out of circumstance or luck. I have struck out on my own and dominated the competition through talent, hard work, mind games, and most importantly, being the best fuckin’ wrestler this planet has to offer, bar none. That includes Torture, Corey Black, Gravedigger, Joey Flash, Logan, and any other legend you can think of. I’ve already defeated one of the men on that list - and you can be sure that if I’m ever put across the ring from the others? They would meet the exact same fate.’
He now points towards the camera, tapping it vigorously three times.
‘But for all my work, for all the effort I’ve put in? I’ve been given very little in return, ladies and gentlemen. Sure, I’ve had my shot at the World Title - but I EARNED that through destroying two of the top prospects for the main-event scene in Camila Gonzalez and Kyle Kemp. Sure, I’m carrying with me right now the All-In Briefcase, which will soon see that I am slinging that World Title around my shoulder - where it rightfully belongs. But I EARNED that by taking out nine other people, some who would be considered just as deserving as me of having this contract within my grasp.
‘And you know what? I beat them all. I outperformed them all. I earned my keep as the top fuckin’ star this federation has, and I expected to be treated as such. It was only fair, right? After all the money and recognition I had brought this place, you’d think they wouldn’t treat me as… expendable, so to speak.’
His head now shakes from left to right in disappointment.
‘But they did. You see, there’s always an agenda going on with upper management, and it has been evident from the beginning. While fools like Lincoln Kuechly have assumed that I’m the “golden child” of Action Wrestling to my vast success and very limited failures, that is not through being gifted opportunities and handed victories by management, or by having a stable who will run out like a bunch of bitches and blindside my opponent every week when I’m struggling to come out with a clean victory.
‘I win on my own merit, I obliterate all who stand before me and leave no doubt as to who is the better athlete and wrestler when I’m done… and this is what I get rewarded with?
‘Torture, this is the second time now, my friend. The second time I have been denied my rightful shot at the World Title. I won the All-In Briefcase as fair as can be, and I solidified my spot as the best man on your roster. You should know by now that I deserve a little bit of respect.
‘Even though I hate the fuckin’ guy, Spencer Adams never got a rematch for his World Title after Wade Moor pinned me at Pandemic to win the belt. Wade himself hasn’t gotten his opportunity to redeem himself yet after dropping the title to Speede. But yet, Speede has gotten ample chances to rematch for his lost title with no repercussions. Is it because he’s your prototypical “good guy” who knows how to get an audience behind him? Or is it because you, for whatever reason, want to deny talent from getting what they have truly earned?’
He smirks, though his eyes tell a different story entirely - one of rage, fueled by injustice.
‘Either way, that’s none of my concern right now. I already know you’re going to suspend me for my actions, Torture. And I don’t blame you. Can’t have your employees going off like that on national television, now can we? But, it doesn’t matter.
‘You’re only delaying the inevitable. The longer you keep me isolated and out of competition, the more my hunger will grow, the more my mind will sharpen, and the stronger I will become. This is not an empty claim - it has happened before. My part-time schedule kept me on edge, kept me longing for more, and that’s exactly what brought me to the level I am at today. This will be no different, which you will find out very, very soon.’
He backs away from the camera, spreading his arms out wide.
‘It’s okay, Action Wrestling. I will be back, don’t you ever doubt it. The Wrestler of the Year Tournament is coming up shortly, and we all know damn well I am going to be put in the running, no matter what fuckin’ seed it is. No matter who it is against, there is no better man in a one-on-one match than me, and that will prove true when I leave this sorry cast of fools broken as I rise to the pinnacle of Action Wrestling - where I’ve belonged this entire time.
‘Torture, you can do what you like. Fine me. Keep me away from active competition until the beginning of the tournament. Throw out my name and try and blacken it however you like, but it won’t matter. In the end, November will arrive and you will watch me pick apart your former and current champions round by round, until I am left standing as YOUR Wrestler of the Year.
‘And you will have no choice to accept it, and acknowledge what was true right from the very start. I’m the best you’ve got - and the best you ever will have.’
The image cuts to black, leaving nothing for the viewers’ eyes.
10/10/18
Mark Pierre, agent and dear-friend of Ryan Lockhart, arrives at The Gallows in Boston wearing a slim-fitting pale blue shirt, black tie, and black suit pants. He looks every bit a man worthy of respect and praise, as he nods to a few men on the way in and sets his course directly to the bar, where a line of chairs are set with only a few patrons filling the row. The posture of the man seated on the far left chair stands out to Mark more than any of the others - an instantly recognizable slump over the bar, with the left elbow propped up on the bar while the right hand sets to ensuring the alcoholic beverage in its possession is downed as swiftly as possible. Mark gives a subtle shake of the head, his subconscious telling him he should be disappointed. But the fact of the matter is, he isn’t. He isn’t surprised in the slightest to find that Ryan Lockhart has fallen back on one of the few things that can keep him sane during times of severe adversity - the drink.
Mark pulls out the chair next to Ryan, who is wearing a dark hoodie that casts a shadow over his face, but still leaves his iconic curly hair protruding out of the front somewhat over his forehead. He turns a weary, disinterested eye upon Mark, and hardly reacts besides giving him a lopsided grin.
‘If you didn’t want to be found, you could’ve at least made it more difficult. All I had to do was search around every bar in a decent vicinity of the apartment, and here you are.’ Mark said, pointing to him now.
‘Who said I don’t want to be found?’ Ryan said, voice slurring only partially.
‘Well, this place isn’t really your kind of scene. You’d prefer a place where you can get into a brawl - The Gallows seems a bit above that.’
‘I can make do.’
Mark lays a critical eye upon him, before letting out a sigh.
‘Look, I don’t really mind what you do in your spare time. I get it’s been a rough time lately, and I want to leave you to unwind and get your bearings, but there’s stuff that just has to be discussed… and you weren’t answering your phone.’ Mark said, leaning in so that his words could be heard above the chatter in The Gallows that surrounded them.
‘Sorry.’ Ryan said, in a mild tone that suggested he was anything but apologetic. Mark decided not to make a comment on it.
‘I got a call from an Action Wrestling representative, in regards to what you did on Monday to Torture.’
This manages to get Ryan’s full attention, as his turns to frontally face Mark, drink still in his right hand, the contents of the glass now shaking as he sways and circles back and forth.
‘Ah, so the coward can’t even give you - or me - the call himself, can he? I can’t say I’m surprised.’ Ryan says, smile playing on his lips.
‘You lied to me, man. I knew that guy out there wasn’t you - attacking your boss like that? The guy who gave you a chance to shine in his company? It just didn’t add up.’
‘First of all, don’t credit HIM for anything that I accomplished on my own. He signed me, yes. And that’s all he fuckin’ did. So don’t be acting like he’s the reason I’m the success I am. And what are you even talking about? Since when have I ever told you something that wasn’t the truth?’
‘You tested positive for cocaine, Ryan. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?
Silence from both men now. It was odd, for a man with both a sharp tongue and wit who had made some of his career off of verbally beating down his opposition, he could not come up with any retaliation to this one simple fact. The fact that he had betrayed the trust of his best-friend. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, unable to think of an adequate response.
‘I mean… I kind of expected it, but I didn’t think it was true. People told me it had even been including in some of your promotional videos, but I tried not to believe them, so I didn’t even watch them in case it proved them right. And then it came out. I should’ve known, man. I should’ve known when you started seeing Amber again more regularly - why else would she have come down to the apartment so often?
‘I guess what I’m trying to say is… I’m not angry at you. I know you’re struggling. I’m just disappointed, and wished you would have reached out to me instead of drugs to solve your issues.’
Upon hearing this, Ryan can’t help but smile sadly.
‘This isn’t anything you can help with, friend.’ he says, before promptly standing up, leaving a few coins on the bar. ‘I truly am sorry for lying to you, but I’ll be truthful right now - I probably would’ve done it again. There’s only so much a man can admit to before being overcome with shame… but this vice of mine? It might be the only thing keeping me sane right now.’ He taps the side of his head, as if to make a point.
Mark sits and contemplates, but makes no move to prevent his friend from leaving. He knew better than to attempt something that would never work. Instead he watches as Ryan departs, navigating his way through the gaps between people, tables and chairs on his way out into the night of Boston.
Ryan Lockhart sits in the middle of the famed squared-circle, where the men and women of Action Wrestling have competed week in and week out in a battle of glory, honor, and for some, fame and fortune. With his legs crossed, and his All-In Briefcase positioned away from him, leaning against the right turnbuckle corner, he smiles and addresses the camera.
‘Here I am in the Echo Arena, where not too long from now I will compete against the legendary Donald Deruty in a one on one match to determine who will be moving on in the Wrestler of the Year Tournament, and who will be left watching at home, knowing full well that they just weren’t good enough to be called “the best”.
‘Scary, right? All of the work we’ve put into the year could be thrown away in an instant if we don’t perform at out absolute greatest, and even if we do… who’s to say that’s just not good enough? And unfortunately for you, Deruty… I can guarantee that your best won’t be enough, regardless of what you bring to the table.’
He smirks and then gestures to his All-In Briefcase.
‘You see, I could ignore this tournament entirely and just focus on my World Title aspirations, but there’s something about my competitive nature that just won’t allow me to not come in firing on all cylinders when it comes to this tournament, and when I’m at my peak ability? There is not one man or woman alive who can stop me from obtaining what I want.
‘People will look at our tournament seeding and automatically assume that I’m the underdog in this situation, D-Day. How could the seventh seed possibly compete with the second? Well, allow me to explain.
‘Donald, my friend. You know deep down that you were never deserving of that ranking, nor do you have any chance of progressing further in this tournament. You are the epitome of inconsistency and haven’t been able to string together any momentum after you lost your World Title. And that’s not for lack of ability, which you clearly have. Instead, it’s a mentality thing. You are a weak-willed, spineless coward who cannot handle adversity when it is thrown at him - at least from what we’ve witnessed in Action Wrestling.
‘You cower in the face of equal or superior competition, and don’t have the mental resilience or strength to push past your fears and continue to grow your legacy. Instead, you’re complacent and uninspired - even though you don’t have the right to be. You achieved one week of glory when you defeated Roy Speede for the World Title, and then lost it immediately after to Spencer Adams of all people.
‘And speaking of people you lost to, the list is starting to grow quite large, is it not? Sidney J Warwick, Spencer Adams, Kyle Kemp, Lincoln Kuechly, Corey Bull? These are all men I have defeated before - some of them on multiple occasions. But more importantly, these are men that I have NEVER lost to, and men that I would never ALLOW myself to be defeated by.
‘Where is your pride, Deruty? You’re supposed to be representing the old guard here, yet you struggle and flounder like a bitch. In your last ten matches, you’ve accumulated three victories, and seven defeats. And, if you look even further, you’re currently negative in your total Action Wrestling record, with ten wins and eleven defeats. Is this worthy of being regarded as the second seed, or are we seeing a typical case of nostalgia and over exaggeration of achievements, as evident with your pathetic one-week World Title reign.’
He scoffs.
‘Nothing sickens me more than a man who puts no pride into himself or his performance, and it’s clear with you Deruty, that you exhibit both of these disgusting qualities more than anyone. While you’ve been out here embarrassing yourself and stumbling further and further down the Action Wrestling hierarchy, I’ve been making a name for myself and taking out all the competition in my path, only failing once and then redeeming myself shortly after when I defeated some of the best in Action Wrestling to secure MY All-In Briefcase. What have you done to redeem your failures, besides beat Roy Speede at Evolution and then watching him win the World Title anyway? What kind of MAN are you?
‘Not to mention that you’re a back-stabbing, flip-flopping scrub with a superiority complex. When you began here, you were the prototypical “good guy” who for whatever reason considering himself the “underdog” even though he had more experience than probably half of the inaugural World Title tournament competition anyway. But even when you were selling that, you were coming in second place. Roy Speede did it better than you ever could, and that? That brought about a rage that you couldn’t contain, and then your true colors emerged.
‘Sure, this is all old news by now. But it serves to make a point about you, Donald. You felt underappreciated, you felt like the people didn’t care about you or your efforts to excel here, and that’s when you turned on them, and your “friend” in Speede. Your jealousy got the better of you, and you ruined your own moment by being the worst winner imaginable, not only figuratively by taking out Speede after your match, but literally to when just the next show after, you would find yourself getting pinned by Spencer fuckin’ Adams of all people and losing that same championship.
‘Fast forward to more recent time, and you’re still around, Donald. Except now, you apologize and claim that it was all a mistake. That your little mean streak was all just a big error of judgement that put you into a dark place. You saw the backlash you were receiving, you saw the looks of hatred from not only the audience, but from your own peers in the locker room. Rather than gain the respect of the people, you only further spiraled downward into a lonely, dark, and painful sadness that haunted your very existence.
He shakes his head deliberately from left to right.
‘And that’s when you came out with your apology. That’s when you virtually begged for the forgiveness of the people, and hoped that they could see you back in that same “good guy” role you tried and failed to take up when you first arrived in Action Wrestling. It’s pathetic, really. You thought you would excel by only caring about yourself, but instead you just deepened the pit of despair that you flailed in, desperately trying to climb your way out of it by apologizing and sucking the fuckin’ dicks of this audience that you clearly don’t care about.
‘And don’t you dare try spin it any other way, Deruty. You ain’t some hero with a heaping of good morals and values that the younger generation should follow. You ain’t someone the people can get behind - we already saw what happened when you tried that route. This isn’t you, and you fuckin’ know it, you’re just a fake pile of shit who we all know deep down is a snake, as evident by his past actions.
‘You won’t own up to your actions and admit that they were the real you, you’ll just continue to try and push this persona where you’re someone worth being cheered, because that’s what makes you feel appreciated and wanted. You want the people to be behind you, you want to be adored, loved and cherished by the people that surround you, because that’s what makes you feel as though your life is worth living.
‘Me? I’m my own fuckin’ man. The only thing I do for this audience is entertain them, because that’s what my job is. When I’m not out getting suspended for bullshit, I put in the work and put on a damn show for the people who pay money to watch us each and every week. And that’s the only care I have for the audience. They can cheer me, boo me, praise me, mock me, I couldn’t fuckin’ care less. I have a job to do, and as I’ve proven time and time again - I’m the best at it, bar none.
‘My time here at Action Wrestling has been spent not as a hero or a villain, but as a man with a goal, who will fight honorably to achieve it, but also not pander to upper management and the crowd to try and get my shot earlier. I do what I have to, and that’s the end of that. No added bullshit
‘When I get angry? I prove that I’m the better man. When I feel undervalued? I put on my big boy pants and get the fuckin’ job done, no questions asked. I don’t blindside my “friends” and turn my back on “the people” to try and assert myself in a higher position. I’m a wrestler who will test myself through the battles I partake in, and more often than not, I come out on top.
‘Take now for instance, Deruty. I feel disrespected by Torture and the rest of management, who have indirectly prevented me from cashing in twice, costing me my opportunities to win the World Title. I EARNED this accolade and deserve to use it, but currently? That’s not what's happening.
‘I’m not one to pussyfoot around the issue like you, hoping that someone will hear my sighs of frustration and my bitchy little comments and hope that they do something about it. Instead, I’ve come in with the mindset that I’m going to GET my fuckin’ respect from these fools who run Action Wrestling - by winning this Wrestler of the Year Tournament, and in a fashion that leaves no doubt as to who the best athlete is.
‘You? You’ll complain, you’ll try and get forgiveness from the people you harmed, and you’ll continue to be the soft little bitch that I know you are, the same little bitch that I’m going to slap back and forth in our match and show the true difference in our levels.
He shuffles forward, getting closer toward the camera, his eyes now displaying a fury within them.
‘Not only am I the most talented man on the roster, Deruty. But I am the hardest working. Through each of the major failures and setbacks I’ve had in my career, I’ve grown stronger and increased my abilities to the point that there are only few who can compete with me - but you are not included in this conversation.
‘During our match, I’m going to give you an exhibition of what a true performer can achieve. In a single match, I'll make you rethink your entire career and mentality up until this point, and hopefully show that I am not one to be toyed with.
‘Maybe you thought you caught a break when I had been announced as the seventh seed. What, was some cocaine-snorting, depressed, split-personality douche-bag party-boy meant to send fear through your bones?
‘I don’t scare you, Deruty. And honestly? I prefer it that way. When I walk into that ring, I never want my opponent to look at me and crumple into a shell of their usual self, but funnily enough, Donald? You became that shell well before I even had you on my radar.
‘Come at me with no fear. I want you at your absolute best so that after I tear you apart, you realize that...
‘Ryan Lockhart is the future of this business.
‘Ryan Lockhart is better than I ever was, and ever will be.
‘Beware The Curse, D-Day. For when it doesn’t make someone stronger... it tends to break them.'
The screen is filled with the shaky, blurred image perpetuated by a handheld camera, which points directly to the face of Ryan Lockhart. Sweat runs down his face and drips from his chin, as his brows furrow inward and the rest of his face forms into a scowl of disgust.
‘When I look out into the federation currently surrounding me, I see a group of men with no conviction, no heart, and no determination. One after another, they come running through that curtain trying to make something of themselves, prove that they belong here, and that they have a place in a federation that I helped build with my hard work, week after week.’
He sharply inhales, and then lets out a deep exhale.
‘I have put on performances of a lifetime against some of the best this federation has had to offer, and out of my sixteen matches? I have came out on top on fifteen of those occasions. Losing is something that doesn’t happen often to me, and that’s not out of circumstance or luck. I have struck out on my own and dominated the competition through talent, hard work, mind games, and most importantly, being the best fuckin’ wrestler this planet has to offer, bar none. That includes Torture, Corey Black, Gravedigger, Joey Flash, Logan, and any other legend you can think of. I’ve already defeated one of the men on that list - and you can be sure that if I’m ever put across the ring from the others? They would meet the exact same fate.’
He now points towards the camera, tapping it vigorously three times.
‘But for all my work, for all the effort I’ve put in? I’ve been given very little in return, ladies and gentlemen. Sure, I’ve had my shot at the World Title - but I EARNED that through destroying two of the top prospects for the main-event scene in Camila Gonzalez and Kyle Kemp. Sure, I’m carrying with me right now the All-In Briefcase, which will soon see that I am slinging that World Title around my shoulder - where it rightfully belongs. But I EARNED that by taking out nine other people, some who would be considered just as deserving as me of having this contract within my grasp.
‘And you know what? I beat them all. I outperformed them all. I earned my keep as the top fuckin’ star this federation has, and I expected to be treated as such. It was only fair, right? After all the money and recognition I had brought this place, you’d think they wouldn’t treat me as… expendable, so to speak.’
His head now shakes from left to right in disappointment.
‘But they did. You see, there’s always an agenda going on with upper management, and it has been evident from the beginning. While fools like Lincoln Kuechly have assumed that I’m the “golden child” of Action Wrestling to my vast success and very limited failures, that is not through being gifted opportunities and handed victories by management, or by having a stable who will run out like a bunch of bitches and blindside my opponent every week when I’m struggling to come out with a clean victory.
‘I win on my own merit, I obliterate all who stand before me and leave no doubt as to who is the better athlete and wrestler when I’m done… and this is what I get rewarded with?
‘Torture, this is the second time now, my friend. The second time I have been denied my rightful shot at the World Title. I won the All-In Briefcase as fair as can be, and I solidified my spot as the best man on your roster. You should know by now that I deserve a little bit of respect.
‘Even though I hate the fuckin’ guy, Spencer Adams never got a rematch for his World Title after Wade Moor pinned me at Pandemic to win the belt. Wade himself hasn’t gotten his opportunity to redeem himself yet after dropping the title to Speede. But yet, Speede has gotten ample chances to rematch for his lost title with no repercussions. Is it because he’s your prototypical “good guy” who knows how to get an audience behind him? Or is it because you, for whatever reason, want to deny talent from getting what they have truly earned?’
He smirks, though his eyes tell a different story entirely - one of rage, fueled by injustice.
‘Either way, that’s none of my concern right now. I already know you’re going to suspend me for my actions, Torture. And I don’t blame you. Can’t have your employees going off like that on national television, now can we? But, it doesn’t matter.
‘You’re only delaying the inevitable. The longer you keep me isolated and out of competition, the more my hunger will grow, the more my mind will sharpen, and the stronger I will become. This is not an empty claim - it has happened before. My part-time schedule kept me on edge, kept me longing for more, and that’s exactly what brought me to the level I am at today. This will be no different, which you will find out very, very soon.’
He backs away from the camera, spreading his arms out wide.
‘It’s okay, Action Wrestling. I will be back, don’t you ever doubt it. The Wrestler of the Year Tournament is coming up shortly, and we all know damn well I am going to be put in the running, no matter what fuckin’ seed it is. No matter who it is against, there is no better man in a one-on-one match than me, and that will prove true when I leave this sorry cast of fools broken as I rise to the pinnacle of Action Wrestling - where I’ve belonged this entire time.
‘Torture, you can do what you like. Fine me. Keep me away from active competition until the beginning of the tournament. Throw out my name and try and blacken it however you like, but it won’t matter. In the end, November will arrive and you will watch me pick apart your former and current champions round by round, until I am left standing as YOUR Wrestler of the Year.
‘And you will have no choice to accept it, and acknowledge what was true right from the very start. I’m the best you’ve got - and the best you ever will have.’
The image cuts to black, leaving nothing for the viewers’ eyes.
10/10/18
Mark Pierre, agent and dear-friend of Ryan Lockhart, arrives at The Gallows in Boston wearing a slim-fitting pale blue shirt, black tie, and black suit pants. He looks every bit a man worthy of respect and praise, as he nods to a few men on the way in and sets his course directly to the bar, where a line of chairs are set with only a few patrons filling the row. The posture of the man seated on the far left chair stands out to Mark more than any of the others - an instantly recognizable slump over the bar, with the left elbow propped up on the bar while the right hand sets to ensuring the alcoholic beverage in its possession is downed as swiftly as possible. Mark gives a subtle shake of the head, his subconscious telling him he should be disappointed. But the fact of the matter is, he isn’t. He isn’t surprised in the slightest to find that Ryan Lockhart has fallen back on one of the few things that can keep him sane during times of severe adversity - the drink.
Mark pulls out the chair next to Ryan, who is wearing a dark hoodie that casts a shadow over his face, but still leaves his iconic curly hair protruding out of the front somewhat over his forehead. He turns a weary, disinterested eye upon Mark, and hardly reacts besides giving him a lopsided grin.
‘If you didn’t want to be found, you could’ve at least made it more difficult. All I had to do was search around every bar in a decent vicinity of the apartment, and here you are.’ Mark said, pointing to him now.
‘Who said I don’t want to be found?’ Ryan said, voice slurring only partially.
‘Well, this place isn’t really your kind of scene. You’d prefer a place where you can get into a brawl - The Gallows seems a bit above that.’
‘I can make do.’
Mark lays a critical eye upon him, before letting out a sigh.
‘Look, I don’t really mind what you do in your spare time. I get it’s been a rough time lately, and I want to leave you to unwind and get your bearings, but there’s stuff that just has to be discussed… and you weren’t answering your phone.’ Mark said, leaning in so that his words could be heard above the chatter in The Gallows that surrounded them.
‘Sorry.’ Ryan said, in a mild tone that suggested he was anything but apologetic. Mark decided not to make a comment on it.
‘I got a call from an Action Wrestling representative, in regards to what you did on Monday to Torture.’
This manages to get Ryan’s full attention, as his turns to frontally face Mark, drink still in his right hand, the contents of the glass now shaking as he sways and circles back and forth.
‘Ah, so the coward can’t even give you - or me - the call himself, can he? I can’t say I’m surprised.’ Ryan says, smile playing on his lips.
‘You lied to me, man. I knew that guy out there wasn’t you - attacking your boss like that? The guy who gave you a chance to shine in his company? It just didn’t add up.’
‘First of all, don’t credit HIM for anything that I accomplished on my own. He signed me, yes. And that’s all he fuckin’ did. So don’t be acting like he’s the reason I’m the success I am. And what are you even talking about? Since when have I ever told you something that wasn’t the truth?’
‘You tested positive for cocaine, Ryan. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?
Silence from both men now. It was odd, for a man with both a sharp tongue and wit who had made some of his career off of verbally beating down his opposition, he could not come up with any retaliation to this one simple fact. The fact that he had betrayed the trust of his best-friend. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, unable to think of an adequate response.
‘I mean… I kind of expected it, but I didn’t think it was true. People told me it had even been including in some of your promotional videos, but I tried not to believe them, so I didn’t even watch them in case it proved them right. And then it came out. I should’ve known, man. I should’ve known when you started seeing Amber again more regularly - why else would she have come down to the apartment so often?
‘I guess what I’m trying to say is… I’m not angry at you. I know you’re struggling. I’m just disappointed, and wished you would have reached out to me instead of drugs to solve your issues.’
Upon hearing this, Ryan can’t help but smile sadly.
‘This isn’t anything you can help with, friend.’ he says, before promptly standing up, leaving a few coins on the bar. ‘I truly am sorry for lying to you, but I’ll be truthful right now - I probably would’ve done it again. There’s only so much a man can admit to before being overcome with shame… but this vice of mine? It might be the only thing keeping me sane right now.’ He taps the side of his head, as if to make a point.
Mark sits and contemplates, but makes no move to prevent his friend from leaving. He knew better than to attempt something that would never work. Instead he watches as Ryan departs, navigating his way through the gaps between people, tables and chairs on his way out into the night of Boston.
Ryan Lockhart sits in the middle of the famed squared-circle, where the men and women of Action Wrestling have competed week in and week out in a battle of glory, honor, and for some, fame and fortune. With his legs crossed, and his All-In Briefcase positioned away from him, leaning against the right turnbuckle corner, he smiles and addresses the camera.
‘Here I am in the Echo Arena, where not too long from now I will compete against the legendary Donald Deruty in a one on one match to determine who will be moving on in the Wrestler of the Year Tournament, and who will be left watching at home, knowing full well that they just weren’t good enough to be called “the best”.
‘Scary, right? All of the work we’ve put into the year could be thrown away in an instant if we don’t perform at out absolute greatest, and even if we do… who’s to say that’s just not good enough? And unfortunately for you, Deruty… I can guarantee that your best won’t be enough, regardless of what you bring to the table.’
He smirks and then gestures to his All-In Briefcase.
‘You see, I could ignore this tournament entirely and just focus on my World Title aspirations, but there’s something about my competitive nature that just won’t allow me to not come in firing on all cylinders when it comes to this tournament, and when I’m at my peak ability? There is not one man or woman alive who can stop me from obtaining what I want.
‘People will look at our tournament seeding and automatically assume that I’m the underdog in this situation, D-Day. How could the seventh seed possibly compete with the second? Well, allow me to explain.
‘Donald, my friend. You know deep down that you were never deserving of that ranking, nor do you have any chance of progressing further in this tournament. You are the epitome of inconsistency and haven’t been able to string together any momentum after you lost your World Title. And that’s not for lack of ability, which you clearly have. Instead, it’s a mentality thing. You are a weak-willed, spineless coward who cannot handle adversity when it is thrown at him - at least from what we’ve witnessed in Action Wrestling.
‘You cower in the face of equal or superior competition, and don’t have the mental resilience or strength to push past your fears and continue to grow your legacy. Instead, you’re complacent and uninspired - even though you don’t have the right to be. You achieved one week of glory when you defeated Roy Speede for the World Title, and then lost it immediately after to Spencer Adams of all people.
‘And speaking of people you lost to, the list is starting to grow quite large, is it not? Sidney J Warwick, Spencer Adams, Kyle Kemp, Lincoln Kuechly, Corey Bull? These are all men I have defeated before - some of them on multiple occasions. But more importantly, these are men that I have NEVER lost to, and men that I would never ALLOW myself to be defeated by.
‘Where is your pride, Deruty? You’re supposed to be representing the old guard here, yet you struggle and flounder like a bitch. In your last ten matches, you’ve accumulated three victories, and seven defeats. And, if you look even further, you’re currently negative in your total Action Wrestling record, with ten wins and eleven defeats. Is this worthy of being regarded as the second seed, or are we seeing a typical case of nostalgia and over exaggeration of achievements, as evident with your pathetic one-week World Title reign.’
He scoffs.
‘Nothing sickens me more than a man who puts no pride into himself or his performance, and it’s clear with you Deruty, that you exhibit both of these disgusting qualities more than anyone. While you’ve been out here embarrassing yourself and stumbling further and further down the Action Wrestling hierarchy, I’ve been making a name for myself and taking out all the competition in my path, only failing once and then redeeming myself shortly after when I defeated some of the best in Action Wrestling to secure MY All-In Briefcase. What have you done to redeem your failures, besides beat Roy Speede at Evolution and then watching him win the World Title anyway? What kind of MAN are you?
‘Not to mention that you’re a back-stabbing, flip-flopping scrub with a superiority complex. When you began here, you were the prototypical “good guy” who for whatever reason considering himself the “underdog” even though he had more experience than probably half of the inaugural World Title tournament competition anyway. But even when you were selling that, you were coming in second place. Roy Speede did it better than you ever could, and that? That brought about a rage that you couldn’t contain, and then your true colors emerged.
‘Sure, this is all old news by now. But it serves to make a point about you, Donald. You felt underappreciated, you felt like the people didn’t care about you or your efforts to excel here, and that’s when you turned on them, and your “friend” in Speede. Your jealousy got the better of you, and you ruined your own moment by being the worst winner imaginable, not only figuratively by taking out Speede after your match, but literally to when just the next show after, you would find yourself getting pinned by Spencer fuckin’ Adams of all people and losing that same championship.
‘Fast forward to more recent time, and you’re still around, Donald. Except now, you apologize and claim that it was all a mistake. That your little mean streak was all just a big error of judgement that put you into a dark place. You saw the backlash you were receiving, you saw the looks of hatred from not only the audience, but from your own peers in the locker room. Rather than gain the respect of the people, you only further spiraled downward into a lonely, dark, and painful sadness that haunted your very existence.
He shakes his head deliberately from left to right.
‘And that’s when you came out with your apology. That’s when you virtually begged for the forgiveness of the people, and hoped that they could see you back in that same “good guy” role you tried and failed to take up when you first arrived in Action Wrestling. It’s pathetic, really. You thought you would excel by only caring about yourself, but instead you just deepened the pit of despair that you flailed in, desperately trying to climb your way out of it by apologizing and sucking the fuckin’ dicks of this audience that you clearly don’t care about.
‘And don’t you dare try spin it any other way, Deruty. You ain’t some hero with a heaping of good morals and values that the younger generation should follow. You ain’t someone the people can get behind - we already saw what happened when you tried that route. This isn’t you, and you fuckin’ know it, you’re just a fake pile of shit who we all know deep down is a snake, as evident by his past actions.
‘You won’t own up to your actions and admit that they were the real you, you’ll just continue to try and push this persona where you’re someone worth being cheered, because that’s what makes you feel appreciated and wanted. You want the people to be behind you, you want to be adored, loved and cherished by the people that surround you, because that’s what makes you feel as though your life is worth living.
‘Me? I’m my own fuckin’ man. The only thing I do for this audience is entertain them, because that’s what my job is. When I’m not out getting suspended for bullshit, I put in the work and put on a damn show for the people who pay money to watch us each and every week. And that’s the only care I have for the audience. They can cheer me, boo me, praise me, mock me, I couldn’t fuckin’ care less. I have a job to do, and as I’ve proven time and time again - I’m the best at it, bar none.
‘My time here at Action Wrestling has been spent not as a hero or a villain, but as a man with a goal, who will fight honorably to achieve it, but also not pander to upper management and the crowd to try and get my shot earlier. I do what I have to, and that’s the end of that. No added bullshit
‘When I get angry? I prove that I’m the better man. When I feel undervalued? I put on my big boy pants and get the fuckin’ job done, no questions asked. I don’t blindside my “friends” and turn my back on “the people” to try and assert myself in a higher position. I’m a wrestler who will test myself through the battles I partake in, and more often than not, I come out on top.
‘Take now for instance, Deruty. I feel disrespected by Torture and the rest of management, who have indirectly prevented me from cashing in twice, costing me my opportunities to win the World Title. I EARNED this accolade and deserve to use it, but currently? That’s not what's happening.
‘I’m not one to pussyfoot around the issue like you, hoping that someone will hear my sighs of frustration and my bitchy little comments and hope that they do something about it. Instead, I’ve come in with the mindset that I’m going to GET my fuckin’ respect from these fools who run Action Wrestling - by winning this Wrestler of the Year Tournament, and in a fashion that leaves no doubt as to who the best athlete is.
‘You? You’ll complain, you’ll try and get forgiveness from the people you harmed, and you’ll continue to be the soft little bitch that I know you are, the same little bitch that I’m going to slap back and forth in our match and show the true difference in our levels.
He shuffles forward, getting closer toward the camera, his eyes now displaying a fury within them.
‘Not only am I the most talented man on the roster, Deruty. But I am the hardest working. Through each of the major failures and setbacks I’ve had in my career, I’ve grown stronger and increased my abilities to the point that there are only few who can compete with me - but you are not included in this conversation.
‘During our match, I’m going to give you an exhibition of what a true performer can achieve. In a single match, I'll make you rethink your entire career and mentality up until this point, and hopefully show that I am not one to be toyed with.
‘Maybe you thought you caught a break when I had been announced as the seventh seed. What, was some cocaine-snorting, depressed, split-personality douche-bag party-boy meant to send fear through your bones?
‘I don’t scare you, Deruty. And honestly? I prefer it that way. When I walk into that ring, I never want my opponent to look at me and crumple into a shell of their usual self, but funnily enough, Donald? You became that shell well before I even had you on my radar.
‘Come at me with no fear. I want you at your absolute best so that after I tear you apart, you realize that...
‘Ryan Lockhart is the future of this business.
‘Ryan Lockhart is better than I ever was, and ever will be.
‘Beware The Curse, D-Day. For when it doesn’t make someone stronger... it tends to break them.'