Post by Kyle Kemp on Nov 10, 2019 21:16:05 GMT -5
Journal Entry 3
Another week and another step forward. I beat Roger Payton Jr and it wasn’t easy. I knew he was going to be tough but he was more physically gifted than I thought. I can see why he was a champion in college. It’s to bad that he suffered another head injury. I heard he’s retiring because of it. I reached out to him but haven’t heard anything back. I don’t expect to. If I was forced to retire I wouldn’t want to talk to anyone either.
Unfortunately retirement is a reality in this company right now. We are losing guys left and right because they either can’t or won’t wrestle anymore. It makes you look inside you and wonder. Is this for me? Am I still as dedicated as I once was? If Ryan Lockhart can walk away after such a great run then what’s keeping me here? I think about that and then I can’t help but smile. I’m still here because I love this. I love all of this.
Every time I walk down to the ring is a new day and it’s a new chapter in this journey. Every day is a blessing and there’s still so much to accomplish. It’s been years and I still have never had a one on one match for a World Title. That’s the goal. Win two more matches and I get there. Win three more matches and I’m the World Champion. It’s crazy to think about but that’s still one of the goals. But that’s just one.
The true goal is to leave behind not only a legacy but leave behind a legacy that inspires people. I want to be remembered as someone that made people want to do something better. I want to be remembered as someone that made someone keep trying. I will never give up. I will never surrender. Every time I think I’ve had enough, well then I’ve got to keep going. I must keep pushing, even if it costs me everything else.
That’s the real reason I’m not calling Amy. I don’t need a girlfriend. I don’t need someone sitting at home worrying about me. I don’t need anyone. I need the ring. I need the fights. I need to win. Clash cannot come soon enough.
————————————--
We open up on a tall blonde woman who’s seated at a table with Kyle Kemp. Kemp smiles at the camera as she begins. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Olivia Harlan and of course this is another interview for GQ online! Throughout this year we have done interviews with various people in the professional wrestling industry and today I’m joined by Kyle Kemp! It’s great to finally meet you Kyle.”
“Well the pleasure is all mine Olivia. I was very thrilled when you reached out. I’ve been a huge fan of your series. It’s a great watch during the monotonous traveling we do.”
“Well I have to say, this is already a lot more comfortable than some of the interviews I’ve done in the past.”
“Oh I can imagine. I’ve seen some of them. I think we all know who you’re talking about.”
“Well then let’s not push it to the side. This week you are facing Ryan Elias and I’ve interviewed him before and it was….well it was something. What makes that relevant is that you happen to be facing him this week. Have you seen the interview?”
“Oh I’ve seen it and before you ask, yes he’s a real work of art. And by work of art I mean a giant douchebag.”
“Your words not mine.”
“That’s fine. I’ve got no problem with him knowing that’s how I see him. Besides it’s not like I’m the only one. I’m pretty sure the rest of the Action Wrestling universe sees him as a giant bag of dicks. Sorry….was that to inappropriate?”
“Oh this is an online video, you can be a little explicit.”
“Sweet.”
“Well before we talk more about your match this week I want to dive into some of the other things in your career. When you first started you said that you were Kyle Kemp and you were better than everyone else. What made you have such a brazen attitude?”
“It was a bad cocktail of delusion and entitlement. For my entire life I had been told that I was better than everyone else. My father told me that Kemps were not destined to be great but that we were great. I was told it was my duty to keep that going and my father led by example by constantly being boisterous about it. I thought I had to be the same way. He did it in the business world and I was doing it in the sports world. It had always worked in baseball and I came into wrestling thinking the same thing. I had never been humbled until I got into wrestling.”
“Some might say that you got humbled early into your career but your attitude didn’t change until earlier this year. Why is that?”
“I may have gotten humbled early on but I still had success. For every defeat came an opportunity. I was People’s Champion in my first two months. I was a member of #BeachKrew and picking up huge wins with them. I have been in the hunt titles. I have always been just talked about enough to never wonder if I needed an attitude change.”
“Well then why change now?”
“Because it just felt right. I may have been having those little successes but I was never a success at home. I would go home and feel empty. I would feel like there was a constant film of dirt that I couldn’t scrub off. I’ll never forget the turning point. Spencer and I were Tag Team Champions and I went home with the belt and set it on my table. I stared at it and felt nothing.” Kemp pauses. “I take that back. I did feel something. I felt like I hadn’t really earned it. It was then that I knew I needed to work on myself.”
“Well you have made an effort to become a better person. You’ve preached working hard and always making yourself available and it has translated into better results. Just look at your United States Title win! Does it get any better than that?”
Kemp smirks. “Oh it does. It gets better if I win on Monday night. It gets better if I go on after that to beat Walter one more time. It gets better if I finish it off with a win in the finals and become World Champion. But do you know what really makes it better? It gets better if I make a difference and some kid at home makes the decision to do things the right way. My legacy isn’t going to be about wins. It’s going to be about leaving this industry in a better place after I leave.”
“Well you are on the way to doing that in my opinion.”
“I appreciate that but I have a question for you.”
“Well that’s different.”
“Well I’ve always been interested in people that do a lot of interviews like you. You’ve interviewed some very interesting people. But I’ve got to ask about one guest in particular.”
“Let me guess. Ryan Elias?”
Kemp smiles. “Yes.”
“Well ask away.”
“Tell me, have you met anyone like him?”
“In what regards?”
“In regards to just how backwards he is. In one breath he speaks about being this hard working guy who won’t change for anyone and on the other he talks about how he’s perfect and he’s the injection that Action Wrestling needs. What was it like interviewing him?”
“I’ve got to admit. He was interesting but he came off as a maniac. There’s something about him that I wouldn’t trust. He talks about how he is fueled by desire and how his way is the right way. I got this feeling he was trying to talk me into his beliefs. I don’t know that for sure but what I do know is there was a clear lack of respect. He had to be addressed a certain way and he had to have everything be done his way.”
“Bingo.”
“Why do you say bingo?”
Kemp smiles. “Because as much as he wants to say he is a “accuser” and how he is going to root out sinners but with people like that there is always an ulterior motive. That motive is that it has to be done his way. That’s how it always has been for him. Everything just his way. Just like when he had his way with you.”
Her face drops and her eyes widen. “Oh....”
“That’s right Olivia. I know about what happened between the two of you. It happens. We are all human beings and we can all make mistakes. I’m not here to slut shame you. God knows if I was, I would have to go yell at myself in the mirror for some of the things I’ve done. No I just want to look at you and know one thing. Did he promise to call?” She doesn’t say anything but nods. “You bought into his perfection bullshit too didn’t you?” She nods again. Kemp turns and looks into the camera. “That’s right Ryan. I do my research. There isn’t one stone that I won’t leave unturned. I’ve hated you from day one. You walk in here and try to tell us all how perfect you are. If that would piss anyone off it’s me. I used to be that guy and I know what type of ego it takes to be that type of guy. The thing is is that you haven’t done anything to back it up. In fact you’ve only gotten worse since you got here.”
Kemp looks at Olivia. “I’m sorry that all of this had to come out but the truth is that you were used. Ryan used you to get what he wants. He’s just another douchebag. Just another guy that will tell you what you want to hear and then leave you. I saw you ask him if he was a ladies man in that interview and he said that you need to know what you want and you can’t be afraid to go get it. I guess you were that to him that night. Just like many others have been before and since then.”
Kemp smiles at Olivia. “Let’s be real. This isn’t 20 questions with Kyle Kemp. This isn’t an interview that’s going to go with the rest of your series. This is a segment that’s meant to show people that you can 1. Change and 2. No one should be treated the way you were treated. I said earlier that I wanted my legacy to be that I made a difference. I hope I’m making a difference for you and for any other men or women who feel like they’ve been played by someone that played with their emotions. We are all human beings and we don’t deserve that.”
Kemp stands up and Olivia stands up as well. She gives him a hug and walks off screen as Kemp looks at the camera and purses his lips. “Ryan Elias, I’m the one doing the accusing today and I accuse you of being a piece of shit. I’ll see you at Clash.” Kemp walks off as we fade away.
————————————--
We open up on Kemp back home and sitting at his desk in his office. “Respect. That’s a word that’s thrown around a lot in our business but it’s for good reason. Respect is the foundation of professional wrestling. That’s why this industry has boomed the way it has and that’s why certain traditions and advice get passed down from generation to generation. Last week Roger Payton Jr. and I had respect for each other. We fought our hearts out and yes he got hurt along the way but we both know it wasn’t from malicious intent. It was an accident. We left it all in the ring and if he were here right now I would shake his hand and wish him well.”
Kemp scoffs. “The same can’t be said for Ryan Elias. Elias has spit on the wrestling industry, Action Wrestling itself and all of the boys in the back from the first second he stepped foot in this company. He has proclaimed that he is the epitome of perfection and has given us a bunch of excuses of why that is. What doesn’t make sense is that if someone is the epitome of pefection, why does it take so much explaining to why you are just that? Shouldn’t we just know perfection when we see it? Just look at some of the most breathtaking sights around the world. The Grand Canyon. Mount Rushmore. The Great Wall of China. All of those things scream perfection and literally take your breath away when you see them. What happens when you see Ryan Elias? More specifically when you see Ryan Elias wrestle? The only thing I lose is my lunch.”
“By now millions of people have seen the video that GQ dropped and I for one am happy that it came out. I showed everyone what type of person you really are Ryan and while that might be enough for some people, we work in an industry where you can do more than just talk. I’m going to do way more than talk. I’m going to walk into Clash and show you what my version of perfection is when it comes to an ass kicking.”
“If you were so perfect Elias than why have you lost so many big matches? Just look at Evolution II. Oh I’m sorry. Just look at the Evolution II kickoff show. You had a chance to beat the man that I beat last week and show everyone that you were exactly what you said you were. The epitome of perfection. Do you remember what happened? I do. You talked a big game, walked down to the ring with your “endless pursuit to be perfect” and you got your ass kicked.” Kemp smirks. “What Ryan? I’m just stating the facts. I’m just looking at the results and wondering exactly why you think you are so damn perfect.”
“And I know you. You’re going to hear these words and the words “it was a fluke” are going to come to mind but then something weird happened the next week and many weeks after that. Lissie Hope beat you too. Then QDT and Teo and Roger Payton Jr again. Oh and Roger Payton Jr one more time in a tag team match. God I feel like I’m forgetting one more big defeat though.”
Kemp walks off screen and comes back with his Trios Trophy. He sets it on the table in front of him and smiles. “That’s right. I’ve already beaten you once before. I beat you literally two weeks ago in a big match situation and you can’t blame it on everyone else. You can’t blame your loss on the fact that you didn’t take the pin. Do you remember why? It’s because I pulled out a move that I haven’t used almost this entire year. A move that I now save for those that I truly dislike and you definitely fit that. I punted you in the face and you were out cold. Do you remember it? Do you remember the ringing in your ears after I punted you in the face? I hope you do because as much as I want to say I’m going to do it again, well I’m not. No.” Kemp leans forward. “I have something much better planned for you Elias. I’m going to choke the life out of you. I’m going to give you another big defeat. Defeat. A feeling that you know very well.”
Kemp puts up one finger. “I take that back. You beat TFK. Congrats I guess but he hasn’t really been TFK for about a year and a half. That’s why I nearly spit my drink out when I heard you scream “ASK TFK” in your promo last week. It was downright comical and reeked of desperation. You beat RJ Collins who even in defeat ended up being the star as people were more focused on him after the match than you winning it. Then of course there is Ryan Lockhart.”
“I’ll be the first to admit. I’ve never beaten Lockhart. Ever. But….I also know I would beat him if he was checked out and ready to retire from Action Wrestling. Let’s be honest Elias. Lockhart hasn’t been the same since he lost the World Title and you just took advantage of a man that didn’t want to wrestle anymore. Maybe if he was facing someone that mattered he would have gotten up for the match. You and I both know that you didn’t beat THE Ryan Lockhart. You beat a shell of a man.”
Kemp’s smile turns devious. “And let’s get down to the nitty gritty. You and I both know you don’t deserve to be in this tournament. You got in as the last seed and you only got in because there were very few other options. Teo didn’t get in because it’s a wrestler of the year tournament and being in WCF for a good portion of the year doesn’t matter. Bobby Rage didn’t get in because he has beef with Torture. Chow Ding hasn’t been here long enough. The same can be said for Allison Riggs-Preston and Ariel Shadows. There’s countless members of this roster that deserved to be in your spot and would be in the same position as you are in right now. The reality is that the 14 seed was supposed to be an enhancement spot for Lockhart to flex his muscles and make people believe he was going to go on a deep run. The new reality is that the fluke is you.”
“But as I said before, you already know that. That’s why I earlier said you reeked of desperation. You also reek of hypocrisy. Last week you said that Lockharts accomplishments really didn’t mean anything because he had to remind us of them but then you had to remind us all that you beat TFK. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve only beaten one person that really matters.”
“What makes it even better is that you know it too. We have seen you blow so many opportunities and now we see your mental state deteriorating as well. You’ve gone from a guy that calmly talks to a crazy psycopath that has to flip off the camera and scream about how you don’t give a fuck about losing. How you are going to keep pushing your own agenda and that you don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. What happened to the guy that talks about how devoted you are and being perfect is what you are to your very core? I watched you say that back around Evolution II and that guy seems so much different than the guy that stands in front of us right now. You don’t want to admit it but all of the losses and the fact that AW is much harder than you thought it was is weighing on you. You are starting to come unglued and I love it.”
“I know how much you love theories so let me pose you one of my own. What happens if I beat you? I’ll tell you. All of the clout from your stained victory over Lockhart disappears. All of the coming out party articles for you suddenly get moved to the archives. Instead the writers start the articles about how you are a fluke and the articles about how you should have stayed retired begin to pop up. You go on to continue your losing ways and by this time next year you aren’t in the Wrestler of the Year tournament but instead you are back at home, trying to forget this little nugget of your life and having people tell you how good you are. You remember why you left this business in the first place.”
“Then again I already know why you left. It’s because the passion isn’t there. You can talk about how the fire was relit inside of you all you want but the truth is that the fire was never there. There is no drive, determination or any of the other generic adjectives you try to use to describe why you are the best and why you love this. What is there is an empty hole because you don’t really know who you are. That is my accusation to you Ryan Elias. Who are you really?”
Kemp chuckles. “Oh wait….I forgot. I guess you are the better Ryan because that’s what really matters.” Kemp rolls his eyes. “That’s where you painted yourself into a corner. You talked about how much of an underdog you were and how much you weren’t focused on winning the tournament. You were just focused on showing everyone who the better Ryan was and you were focused on pulling a monumental upset. So now what Elias? Tell me? Now that you’ve backed up those two incredibly stupid ways of thinking what do you do now? How do you look at our match? Because I look at it like this. Our match is only a step on a long journey. Last week I said it was one match at a time and I meant it. However I do find myself looking ahead for one reason. That reason is Walter.”
Kemps eyes turn cold. “I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen the other side of the bracket. I’ve seen what can happen. I relish it. I want it. I want Kemp vs. Walter. I want one more shot at you Walter. I’m the last person to beat you and I want to do it again. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about our series of matches and think about how close I was to beating you. How close I was to coming out on top and being the United States Champion. I can’t think of a more poetic revenge than not only beating you, but beating you, being named Wrestler of the Year and of course, World Champion. But as I’ve said, it’s one match at a time. I can’t lose my focus because that’s how I lose everything and I’m not going to do that.”
“That’s what makes us different Elias. I don’t get too high or too low after a single victory or defeat. I just keep going. I don’t need five year breaks. I don’t need pep talks. I don’t need to stroke my ego. I just need to show up and give it everything I’ve got and the chips will fall where they may.”
“I’m not going to end this by talking about how I need to beat you or how I’m confident or how I’ve kicked your ass before. I’m going to end it by simply telling you this. I dare you to show me your epitome of perfection. I dare you to shut me up. I dare you to prove to me that you are more than just another douchebag. Because if I am right about you. Well this is going to be over quick. Think about that Elias” Kemp picks up his Trios trophy and walks off the screen.
Another week and another step forward. I beat Roger Payton Jr and it wasn’t easy. I knew he was going to be tough but he was more physically gifted than I thought. I can see why he was a champion in college. It’s to bad that he suffered another head injury. I heard he’s retiring because of it. I reached out to him but haven’t heard anything back. I don’t expect to. If I was forced to retire I wouldn’t want to talk to anyone either.
Unfortunately retirement is a reality in this company right now. We are losing guys left and right because they either can’t or won’t wrestle anymore. It makes you look inside you and wonder. Is this for me? Am I still as dedicated as I once was? If Ryan Lockhart can walk away after such a great run then what’s keeping me here? I think about that and then I can’t help but smile. I’m still here because I love this. I love all of this.
Every time I walk down to the ring is a new day and it’s a new chapter in this journey. Every day is a blessing and there’s still so much to accomplish. It’s been years and I still have never had a one on one match for a World Title. That’s the goal. Win two more matches and I get there. Win three more matches and I’m the World Champion. It’s crazy to think about but that’s still one of the goals. But that’s just one.
The true goal is to leave behind not only a legacy but leave behind a legacy that inspires people. I want to be remembered as someone that made people want to do something better. I want to be remembered as someone that made someone keep trying. I will never give up. I will never surrender. Every time I think I’ve had enough, well then I’ve got to keep going. I must keep pushing, even if it costs me everything else.
That’s the real reason I’m not calling Amy. I don’t need a girlfriend. I don’t need someone sitting at home worrying about me. I don’t need anyone. I need the ring. I need the fights. I need to win. Clash cannot come soon enough.
————————————--
We open up on a tall blonde woman who’s seated at a table with Kyle Kemp. Kemp smiles at the camera as she begins. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Olivia Harlan and of course this is another interview for GQ online! Throughout this year we have done interviews with various people in the professional wrestling industry and today I’m joined by Kyle Kemp! It’s great to finally meet you Kyle.”
“Well the pleasure is all mine Olivia. I was very thrilled when you reached out. I’ve been a huge fan of your series. It’s a great watch during the monotonous traveling we do.”
“Well I have to say, this is already a lot more comfortable than some of the interviews I’ve done in the past.”
“Oh I can imagine. I’ve seen some of them. I think we all know who you’re talking about.”
“Well then let’s not push it to the side. This week you are facing Ryan Elias and I’ve interviewed him before and it was….well it was something. What makes that relevant is that you happen to be facing him this week. Have you seen the interview?”
“Oh I’ve seen it and before you ask, yes he’s a real work of art. And by work of art I mean a giant douchebag.”
“Your words not mine.”
“That’s fine. I’ve got no problem with him knowing that’s how I see him. Besides it’s not like I’m the only one. I’m pretty sure the rest of the Action Wrestling universe sees him as a giant bag of dicks. Sorry….was that to inappropriate?”
“Oh this is an online video, you can be a little explicit.”
“Sweet.”
“Well before we talk more about your match this week I want to dive into some of the other things in your career. When you first started you said that you were Kyle Kemp and you were better than everyone else. What made you have such a brazen attitude?”
“It was a bad cocktail of delusion and entitlement. For my entire life I had been told that I was better than everyone else. My father told me that Kemps were not destined to be great but that we were great. I was told it was my duty to keep that going and my father led by example by constantly being boisterous about it. I thought I had to be the same way. He did it in the business world and I was doing it in the sports world. It had always worked in baseball and I came into wrestling thinking the same thing. I had never been humbled until I got into wrestling.”
“Some might say that you got humbled early into your career but your attitude didn’t change until earlier this year. Why is that?”
“I may have gotten humbled early on but I still had success. For every defeat came an opportunity. I was People’s Champion in my first two months. I was a member of #BeachKrew and picking up huge wins with them. I have been in the hunt titles. I have always been just talked about enough to never wonder if I needed an attitude change.”
“Well then why change now?”
“Because it just felt right. I may have been having those little successes but I was never a success at home. I would go home and feel empty. I would feel like there was a constant film of dirt that I couldn’t scrub off. I’ll never forget the turning point. Spencer and I were Tag Team Champions and I went home with the belt and set it on my table. I stared at it and felt nothing.” Kemp pauses. “I take that back. I did feel something. I felt like I hadn’t really earned it. It was then that I knew I needed to work on myself.”
“Well you have made an effort to become a better person. You’ve preached working hard and always making yourself available and it has translated into better results. Just look at your United States Title win! Does it get any better than that?”
Kemp smirks. “Oh it does. It gets better if I win on Monday night. It gets better if I go on after that to beat Walter one more time. It gets better if I finish it off with a win in the finals and become World Champion. But do you know what really makes it better? It gets better if I make a difference and some kid at home makes the decision to do things the right way. My legacy isn’t going to be about wins. It’s going to be about leaving this industry in a better place after I leave.”
“Well you are on the way to doing that in my opinion.”
“I appreciate that but I have a question for you.”
“Well that’s different.”
“Well I’ve always been interested in people that do a lot of interviews like you. You’ve interviewed some very interesting people. But I’ve got to ask about one guest in particular.”
“Let me guess. Ryan Elias?”
Kemp smiles. “Yes.”
“Well ask away.”
“Tell me, have you met anyone like him?”
“In what regards?”
“In regards to just how backwards he is. In one breath he speaks about being this hard working guy who won’t change for anyone and on the other he talks about how he’s perfect and he’s the injection that Action Wrestling needs. What was it like interviewing him?”
“I’ve got to admit. He was interesting but he came off as a maniac. There’s something about him that I wouldn’t trust. He talks about how he is fueled by desire and how his way is the right way. I got this feeling he was trying to talk me into his beliefs. I don’t know that for sure but what I do know is there was a clear lack of respect. He had to be addressed a certain way and he had to have everything be done his way.”
“Bingo.”
“Why do you say bingo?”
Kemp smiles. “Because as much as he wants to say he is a “accuser” and how he is going to root out sinners but with people like that there is always an ulterior motive. That motive is that it has to be done his way. That’s how it always has been for him. Everything just his way. Just like when he had his way with you.”
Her face drops and her eyes widen. “Oh....”
“That’s right Olivia. I know about what happened between the two of you. It happens. We are all human beings and we can all make mistakes. I’m not here to slut shame you. God knows if I was, I would have to go yell at myself in the mirror for some of the things I’ve done. No I just want to look at you and know one thing. Did he promise to call?” She doesn’t say anything but nods. “You bought into his perfection bullshit too didn’t you?” She nods again. Kemp turns and looks into the camera. “That’s right Ryan. I do my research. There isn’t one stone that I won’t leave unturned. I’ve hated you from day one. You walk in here and try to tell us all how perfect you are. If that would piss anyone off it’s me. I used to be that guy and I know what type of ego it takes to be that type of guy. The thing is is that you haven’t done anything to back it up. In fact you’ve only gotten worse since you got here.”
Kemp looks at Olivia. “I’m sorry that all of this had to come out but the truth is that you were used. Ryan used you to get what he wants. He’s just another douchebag. Just another guy that will tell you what you want to hear and then leave you. I saw you ask him if he was a ladies man in that interview and he said that you need to know what you want and you can’t be afraid to go get it. I guess you were that to him that night. Just like many others have been before and since then.”
Kemp smiles at Olivia. “Let’s be real. This isn’t 20 questions with Kyle Kemp. This isn’t an interview that’s going to go with the rest of your series. This is a segment that’s meant to show people that you can 1. Change and 2. No one should be treated the way you were treated. I said earlier that I wanted my legacy to be that I made a difference. I hope I’m making a difference for you and for any other men or women who feel like they’ve been played by someone that played with their emotions. We are all human beings and we don’t deserve that.”
Kemp stands up and Olivia stands up as well. She gives him a hug and walks off screen as Kemp looks at the camera and purses his lips. “Ryan Elias, I’m the one doing the accusing today and I accuse you of being a piece of shit. I’ll see you at Clash.” Kemp walks off as we fade away.
————————————--
We open up on Kemp back home and sitting at his desk in his office. “Respect. That’s a word that’s thrown around a lot in our business but it’s for good reason. Respect is the foundation of professional wrestling. That’s why this industry has boomed the way it has and that’s why certain traditions and advice get passed down from generation to generation. Last week Roger Payton Jr. and I had respect for each other. We fought our hearts out and yes he got hurt along the way but we both know it wasn’t from malicious intent. It was an accident. We left it all in the ring and if he were here right now I would shake his hand and wish him well.”
Kemp scoffs. “The same can’t be said for Ryan Elias. Elias has spit on the wrestling industry, Action Wrestling itself and all of the boys in the back from the first second he stepped foot in this company. He has proclaimed that he is the epitome of perfection and has given us a bunch of excuses of why that is. What doesn’t make sense is that if someone is the epitome of pefection, why does it take so much explaining to why you are just that? Shouldn’t we just know perfection when we see it? Just look at some of the most breathtaking sights around the world. The Grand Canyon. Mount Rushmore. The Great Wall of China. All of those things scream perfection and literally take your breath away when you see them. What happens when you see Ryan Elias? More specifically when you see Ryan Elias wrestle? The only thing I lose is my lunch.”
“By now millions of people have seen the video that GQ dropped and I for one am happy that it came out. I showed everyone what type of person you really are Ryan and while that might be enough for some people, we work in an industry where you can do more than just talk. I’m going to do way more than talk. I’m going to walk into Clash and show you what my version of perfection is when it comes to an ass kicking.”
“If you were so perfect Elias than why have you lost so many big matches? Just look at Evolution II. Oh I’m sorry. Just look at the Evolution II kickoff show. You had a chance to beat the man that I beat last week and show everyone that you were exactly what you said you were. The epitome of perfection. Do you remember what happened? I do. You talked a big game, walked down to the ring with your “endless pursuit to be perfect” and you got your ass kicked.” Kemp smirks. “What Ryan? I’m just stating the facts. I’m just looking at the results and wondering exactly why you think you are so damn perfect.”
“And I know you. You’re going to hear these words and the words “it was a fluke” are going to come to mind but then something weird happened the next week and many weeks after that. Lissie Hope beat you too. Then QDT and Teo and Roger Payton Jr again. Oh and Roger Payton Jr one more time in a tag team match. God I feel like I’m forgetting one more big defeat though.”
Kemp walks off screen and comes back with his Trios Trophy. He sets it on the table in front of him and smiles. “That’s right. I’ve already beaten you once before. I beat you literally two weeks ago in a big match situation and you can’t blame it on everyone else. You can’t blame your loss on the fact that you didn’t take the pin. Do you remember why? It’s because I pulled out a move that I haven’t used almost this entire year. A move that I now save for those that I truly dislike and you definitely fit that. I punted you in the face and you were out cold. Do you remember it? Do you remember the ringing in your ears after I punted you in the face? I hope you do because as much as I want to say I’m going to do it again, well I’m not. No.” Kemp leans forward. “I have something much better planned for you Elias. I’m going to choke the life out of you. I’m going to give you another big defeat. Defeat. A feeling that you know very well.”
Kemp puts up one finger. “I take that back. You beat TFK. Congrats I guess but he hasn’t really been TFK for about a year and a half. That’s why I nearly spit my drink out when I heard you scream “ASK TFK” in your promo last week. It was downright comical and reeked of desperation. You beat RJ Collins who even in defeat ended up being the star as people were more focused on him after the match than you winning it. Then of course there is Ryan Lockhart.”
“I’ll be the first to admit. I’ve never beaten Lockhart. Ever. But….I also know I would beat him if he was checked out and ready to retire from Action Wrestling. Let’s be honest Elias. Lockhart hasn’t been the same since he lost the World Title and you just took advantage of a man that didn’t want to wrestle anymore. Maybe if he was facing someone that mattered he would have gotten up for the match. You and I both know that you didn’t beat THE Ryan Lockhart. You beat a shell of a man.”
Kemp’s smile turns devious. “And let’s get down to the nitty gritty. You and I both know you don’t deserve to be in this tournament. You got in as the last seed and you only got in because there were very few other options. Teo didn’t get in because it’s a wrestler of the year tournament and being in WCF for a good portion of the year doesn’t matter. Bobby Rage didn’t get in because he has beef with Torture. Chow Ding hasn’t been here long enough. The same can be said for Allison Riggs-Preston and Ariel Shadows. There’s countless members of this roster that deserved to be in your spot and would be in the same position as you are in right now. The reality is that the 14 seed was supposed to be an enhancement spot for Lockhart to flex his muscles and make people believe he was going to go on a deep run. The new reality is that the fluke is you.”
“But as I said before, you already know that. That’s why I earlier said you reeked of desperation. You also reek of hypocrisy. Last week you said that Lockharts accomplishments really didn’t mean anything because he had to remind us of them but then you had to remind us all that you beat TFK. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve only beaten one person that really matters.”
“What makes it even better is that you know it too. We have seen you blow so many opportunities and now we see your mental state deteriorating as well. You’ve gone from a guy that calmly talks to a crazy psycopath that has to flip off the camera and scream about how you don’t give a fuck about losing. How you are going to keep pushing your own agenda and that you don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. What happened to the guy that talks about how devoted you are and being perfect is what you are to your very core? I watched you say that back around Evolution II and that guy seems so much different than the guy that stands in front of us right now. You don’t want to admit it but all of the losses and the fact that AW is much harder than you thought it was is weighing on you. You are starting to come unglued and I love it.”
“I know how much you love theories so let me pose you one of my own. What happens if I beat you? I’ll tell you. All of the clout from your stained victory over Lockhart disappears. All of the coming out party articles for you suddenly get moved to the archives. Instead the writers start the articles about how you are a fluke and the articles about how you should have stayed retired begin to pop up. You go on to continue your losing ways and by this time next year you aren’t in the Wrestler of the Year tournament but instead you are back at home, trying to forget this little nugget of your life and having people tell you how good you are. You remember why you left this business in the first place.”
“Then again I already know why you left. It’s because the passion isn’t there. You can talk about how the fire was relit inside of you all you want but the truth is that the fire was never there. There is no drive, determination or any of the other generic adjectives you try to use to describe why you are the best and why you love this. What is there is an empty hole because you don’t really know who you are. That is my accusation to you Ryan Elias. Who are you really?”
Kemp chuckles. “Oh wait….I forgot. I guess you are the better Ryan because that’s what really matters.” Kemp rolls his eyes. “That’s where you painted yourself into a corner. You talked about how much of an underdog you were and how much you weren’t focused on winning the tournament. You were just focused on showing everyone who the better Ryan was and you were focused on pulling a monumental upset. So now what Elias? Tell me? Now that you’ve backed up those two incredibly stupid ways of thinking what do you do now? How do you look at our match? Because I look at it like this. Our match is only a step on a long journey. Last week I said it was one match at a time and I meant it. However I do find myself looking ahead for one reason. That reason is Walter.”
Kemps eyes turn cold. “I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen the other side of the bracket. I’ve seen what can happen. I relish it. I want it. I want Kemp vs. Walter. I want one more shot at you Walter. I’m the last person to beat you and I want to do it again. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about our series of matches and think about how close I was to beating you. How close I was to coming out on top and being the United States Champion. I can’t think of a more poetic revenge than not only beating you, but beating you, being named Wrestler of the Year and of course, World Champion. But as I’ve said, it’s one match at a time. I can’t lose my focus because that’s how I lose everything and I’m not going to do that.”
“That’s what makes us different Elias. I don’t get too high or too low after a single victory or defeat. I just keep going. I don’t need five year breaks. I don’t need pep talks. I don’t need to stroke my ego. I just need to show up and give it everything I’ve got and the chips will fall where they may.”
“I’m not going to end this by talking about how I need to beat you or how I’m confident or how I’ve kicked your ass before. I’m going to end it by simply telling you this. I dare you to show me your epitome of perfection. I dare you to shut me up. I dare you to prove to me that you are more than just another douchebag. Because if I am right about you. Well this is going to be over quick. Think about that Elias” Kemp picks up his Trios trophy and walks off the screen.