Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 23:49:35 GMT -5
12/16/19
The scene fades in on RJ Collins as he's sitting alone with only the camera keeping him company in a dark room. Clash is going on at the moment and the occasional pop from the crowd can be heard, even as deep in the arena as RJ is. He looks like a man in pain as he sits, staring ahead dejectedly.
RJ Collins: I'd like to say that I look forward to what 2020 is going to bring me, especially seeing as how 2019 ended as poorly as it did, but I'm not a stupid man. I know that just because a terrible year ends and the calendars start fresh, that doesn't just wipe away the stench of failures. There was so much promise when I first debuted in Action Wrestling, I was on top of the world that first month. And then even after the first loss, the odds that I was going to finish 2019 still on the right side of the win column were still as high as my spirits. But then I just couldn't seem to keep any sort of momentum going and the losses just kept piling up. And then there was the attack by T.H.E that left me on the sidelines for nearly a month with a head injury and that's where the downward spiral turned into a full-on kamikaze-style crash into the ground. I ended up embarrassing myself and wasting a shot at the Television Title by rushing to come back earlier than I should have, probably making management question if I'll ever get another marquee match like that again.
RJ pauses as he leans back, running a hand over his head as he lets out a sigh.
RJ Collins: So why'd I do it? Simple. It's because I've got Corey Black and FPV looking out for me and putting their reputation on the line by associating themselves with me, all the while dominating week in and week out. It's not a matter of jealousy by any means, no, this is about a man feeling lower than dirt because he can't pull his own weight anymore. I was a lump on the couch just watching the clock and being forced to watch everyone else in AW do what I love. And then I got a call from up top, they knew that my people wanted to keep me at home so I could rest up, but they had a TV Title Match to book and a spot for me if I wanted it. How the heck was I supposed to say no? Sure, if I'd listened to the doctors who knows, maybe I could have come back a few weeks later and gotten an equally good opportunity. But there aren't any guarantees in life and that goes double for professional wrestling, especially for a guy like me. So I told them I'd do it because I felt like I needed to prove something to myself and to everyone else. Unfortunately, all I managed to do was prove what everyone has been saying since day one and that's that I don't belong here. That spot that I had in the TV Title gauntlet? It could have been filled by someone else, someone who could have actually won the match. Instead, it was me, ole disappointing RJ, wasting a golden opportunity that he never should have gotten.
RJ slumps down in the chair, clearly feeling like a man that's hit rock bottom.
RJ Collins: I'm honestly at that point where I'm taking a long hard look at my life and hating everything that I'm seeing. And believe me, I know what it's like to be down in the dumps. My life before I showed up in AW was at the lowest point you could imagine. Or at least that's what I used to think. Now? I honestly wonder if I'd be better off still living in my car and working three different dead-end jobs to survive. At least then I wasn't embarrassing myself on national television. Of course just up and quitting would be giving everyone else what they want and proving them all wrong, not to mention the fact it goes against everything that I'm about, but at this point what other option do I really have?
Voice: Well for starters you could stop being such a whiny shit and get up off of your ass.
The camera pulls back off of RJ and pans over to the side where Corey Black is standing in a doorway, arms crossed as he leans against the frame, a look of exasperation on his face.
Corey Black: Honestly, what in the hell do you think you're accomplishing here?
RJ Collins: I'm trying to work through some real issues I'm dealing with so that I can get my mind right, which will lead to me becoming more focused on what's in front of me.
Corey Black: Oh yeah? And how's that going for you?
RJ Collins: Well I felt like I was making some real progress before you interrupted me.
Corey Black: Oh? Because to me, it sounded like you were in here sulking because you decided to NOT listen to Frank and I and you got your ass handed to you in yet another title match.
RJ Collins: Well I-
Corey Black: Sitting in a dark room crying about how you can't succeed isn't going to do a damn thing to help you. You want to quit and go back to delivering pizzas? Go for it. Save Frank and I the trouble of trying to resurrect your dead career.
RJ Collins: My career's not dead, I'm just going through a rough patch right now.
Corey Black: Rough patch? You just asked yourself if you're better off living in your car. Meaning you're so dejected over things that you'd give up a steady paycheck, easily the biggest you'll ever have the chance to earn, to go live in a car and work yourself into an early grave. Son, that's not a rough patch, that's the end of the line.
RJ Collins: You're wrong.
Corey Black: Am I? Because I'm pretty sure we've spent the last two months or so trying to turn things around in your career and you decided that you knew better than us. I've been in this business almost as long as you've been alive, but no, you know better than me. But what really gets me is that you keep telling us how serious you are about this business and how you want to succeed, but at the first sign of failure, you turn into a blubbering mess that wants to quit. So why don't you just do it already and stop talking about it?
RJ Collins: Is that what you want me to do?
Corey Black: What I want is for you to shut the hell up and get back to working on getting better in a productive way instead of sitting in here giving a sad ass monologue. But it doesn't matter what I want, it's what you want and how you plan on getting it.
RJ Collins: Yeah, well what I want is to stop feeling like the biggest loser in the world and to actually belong. But I don't have the first clue how to get that.
Corey Black: Well step one would be to stop whining and moaning into a camera. Step two is to actually do something else. Literally anything else. Like, oh I don't know, actually training. Call me crazy but I think that might actually help. Besides that, it's on you to start making better decisions because I'm not going to hold your hand the whole time. So either suck it up and get to work or be man enough to tell Frank and I that you're quitting so we can all move on.
Black unfolds his arms and turns, walking out into the hallway and out of the camera's view. The camera pans back to RJ as he stares toward the empty doorway, taken aback by the blunt words of Black. The scene fades out as he sits back in his chair, deep in thought.
1/4/20
The scene fades back in just in time to see a small man flying through the air and crashing into a bunch of folding chairs that had been set up. As the man writhes in pain, the camera pans over to show RJ standing in the ring, sweat pouring down his face as he's breathing rather hard. Nearby Bill is standing, a smile on his face as he's watching RJ while talking on the phone. The camera zooms in to hear his conversation.
Bill Simpson: It's the damndest thing, Frank. I don't know what the fuck has gotten into him, but the last three days he's been in here working himself to the point that I'm worried he's going to have a heart attack. Something lit a fire under his ass finally and I'm not about to start questioning it.
Bill watches as another one of his students slides into the ring, only to get laid out by a massive lariat. RJ picks up the poor bastard and throws him over the top rope as Bill nods approvingly.
Bill Simpson: So you didn't say anything to him lately either? Well shit, let's just celebrate the fact that it looks like he's taking things seriously for the first time ever. Who knows, maybe this is the week things finally turn around for him. Anyway, I got to get back to it. Take it easy.
Bill tucks his phone away and signals for yet another student to get into the ring with RJ. The guy gives him a worried look but Bill only waves him on more aggressively as he approaches the apron.
Bill Simpson: Kid I hope I'm not jinxing things, but the last three days I've seen more out of you than I have since we met.
RJ doesn't respond, choosing only to focus on the guy as he slides into the ring. As soon as he's on his feet, RJ charges him and tackles him into the corner. RJ grabs him by the head and drags him out toward the center of the ring.
RJ Collins: So you think that I'm a loser, huh? That I like to cry like a big pussy? Well let's see who the pussy is now!
The student lets out a scream of terror as RJ lifts him up and slams him to mat with a spinebuster.
RJ Collins: I'm just a big fat loser to you, aren't I? AREN'T I?
RJ grabs him by the head and pulls him back up to his feet.
RJ Collins: I..AM...NOT...A LOSER!
Student: I never said you were!
RJ lets out a primal roar and then elbows the poor man's face through the back of his skull. Well not literally but it's damn close.
Bill Simpson: All right kid, we're going to have to call it for the day. If I let you keep at it I'm not going to have any student's left alive and I need those checks to keep coming in.
RJ wipes the sweat from his face as he walks toward the ropes.
RJ Collins: I'm not done yet.
Bill Simpson: Come on, RJ, call it a day. You've been going at it since eight and look like you're near death.
RJ Collins: I said I'm not done yet.
Bill Simpson: Yeah but-
RJ climbs out onto the apron and drops down to the floor.
Bill Simpson: All right, I get it, but look around. I don't have anyone left that can stand at the moment. You have to at least give them enough time to recover.
RJ Collins: Fine.
RJ heads for the water cooler as Bill stares at him, clearly concerned now.
Bill Simpson: You okay, RJ?
RJ Collins: Never better.
Bill Simpson: Don't get me wrong, I'm loving this more focused and serious side of you, but I'm also starting to get worried that you're pushing yourself too hard. Are you going to tell me what's up?
RJ Collins: The only thing you need to know is that I'm done with being the world's punching bag. I'm still the loveable old RJ that likes to have fun, but what I'm not is the guy that you can mock for being fat and get away with it. Somebody recently told me that I need to suck it up and start making some changes in my life and for once I'm going to be smart enough to listen to them.
Bill Simpson: It's about time you listened to me!
RJ Collins: It wasn't y- yeah, it was you.
Bill Simpson: Well you picked the right time to get your act together, what with your big return match coming up. But that Corey Bull isn't exactly a pushover.
RJ Collins: Why do you think I'm going so hard here?
Bill Simpson: Ah, touche.
RJ Collins: I need to train like an absolute monster if I'm about to step into the ring with one. I can't let myself get intimidated by the sheer size of him.
Bill Simpson: I mean the size of him is terrifying, yes. But I think what's more concerning is the homicidal tendencies and the time in the asylum and the multiple personalities disorder and...well I could go on and on, but you get the point.
RJ Collins: Doesn't matter, he's a human being, not a movie monster. I can do this.
Bill Simpson: Love the confidence, but you need to consider-
RJ Collins: I'm not considering anything. I know that I can beat Bull and I'm going into this match with that one simple thought on my mind. I don't care about his history, I don't care about the serial killer vibe that he puts off, I don't care about a single thing when it comes to Corey Bull except for the fact that beneath it all he's still just a person and that means he can feel pain. Which means all I need to do is get in the ring and dish out more than I have in my whole career.
Bill Simpson: It's not going to just be that easy.
RJ Collins: And I know that it's not. But at the end of the day, the simple fact is that I have something to prove. These damn people are out there thinking that just because I'm heavy, I'm automatically a loser. They see me smiling, having a good time, and right away I'm a moron who can't take things seriously. Well I'm done letting people judge me based on what they see when they look at me. It's time I make people take me seriously and if I have to do that by turning things up in the ring, bringing pain and destruction instead of just putting on a show, then so be it. I'm sick and tired of people like Corey Bull thinking they can say whatever they want about me and that I'll just take it and smile back. Nah, it's time for some serious changes and the only way I'm going to see them is if I finally step up and do something about it.
Bill Simpson: It'll be good to see you no longer be the punchline of a cruel joke.
RJ Collins: I'll never stop being the butt of the joke from some asshole, that's just the world that we live in. But what I can change is how many people are making those jokes because I plan on knocking them all down one at a time. RJ Collins has been a bottom feeder for far too long now and it's high time that things change. It's Eatin' Season and I'm one hungry mother fucker.
Bill Simpson: I don't think I've ever heard you curse.
RJ Collins: You're about to see a lot of shit you've never seen me do before. Now bring me someone that can actually give me a fight.
RJ heads back toward the ring as Bill looks on, his face full of intrigue. The scene fades out to black as RJ climbs up onto the apron and steps through the ropes.
The scene fades in on RJ Collins as he's sitting alone with only the camera keeping him company in a dark room. Clash is going on at the moment and the occasional pop from the crowd can be heard, even as deep in the arena as RJ is. He looks like a man in pain as he sits, staring ahead dejectedly.
RJ Collins: I'd like to say that I look forward to what 2020 is going to bring me, especially seeing as how 2019 ended as poorly as it did, but I'm not a stupid man. I know that just because a terrible year ends and the calendars start fresh, that doesn't just wipe away the stench of failures. There was so much promise when I first debuted in Action Wrestling, I was on top of the world that first month. And then even after the first loss, the odds that I was going to finish 2019 still on the right side of the win column were still as high as my spirits. But then I just couldn't seem to keep any sort of momentum going and the losses just kept piling up. And then there was the attack by T.H.E that left me on the sidelines for nearly a month with a head injury and that's where the downward spiral turned into a full-on kamikaze-style crash into the ground. I ended up embarrassing myself and wasting a shot at the Television Title by rushing to come back earlier than I should have, probably making management question if I'll ever get another marquee match like that again.
RJ pauses as he leans back, running a hand over his head as he lets out a sigh.
RJ Collins: So why'd I do it? Simple. It's because I've got Corey Black and FPV looking out for me and putting their reputation on the line by associating themselves with me, all the while dominating week in and week out. It's not a matter of jealousy by any means, no, this is about a man feeling lower than dirt because he can't pull his own weight anymore. I was a lump on the couch just watching the clock and being forced to watch everyone else in AW do what I love. And then I got a call from up top, they knew that my people wanted to keep me at home so I could rest up, but they had a TV Title Match to book and a spot for me if I wanted it. How the heck was I supposed to say no? Sure, if I'd listened to the doctors who knows, maybe I could have come back a few weeks later and gotten an equally good opportunity. But there aren't any guarantees in life and that goes double for professional wrestling, especially for a guy like me. So I told them I'd do it because I felt like I needed to prove something to myself and to everyone else. Unfortunately, all I managed to do was prove what everyone has been saying since day one and that's that I don't belong here. That spot that I had in the TV Title gauntlet? It could have been filled by someone else, someone who could have actually won the match. Instead, it was me, ole disappointing RJ, wasting a golden opportunity that he never should have gotten.
RJ slumps down in the chair, clearly feeling like a man that's hit rock bottom.
RJ Collins: I'm honestly at that point where I'm taking a long hard look at my life and hating everything that I'm seeing. And believe me, I know what it's like to be down in the dumps. My life before I showed up in AW was at the lowest point you could imagine. Or at least that's what I used to think. Now? I honestly wonder if I'd be better off still living in my car and working three different dead-end jobs to survive. At least then I wasn't embarrassing myself on national television. Of course just up and quitting would be giving everyone else what they want and proving them all wrong, not to mention the fact it goes against everything that I'm about, but at this point what other option do I really have?
Voice: Well for starters you could stop being such a whiny shit and get up off of your ass.
The camera pulls back off of RJ and pans over to the side where Corey Black is standing in a doorway, arms crossed as he leans against the frame, a look of exasperation on his face.
Corey Black: Honestly, what in the hell do you think you're accomplishing here?
RJ Collins: I'm trying to work through some real issues I'm dealing with so that I can get my mind right, which will lead to me becoming more focused on what's in front of me.
Corey Black: Oh yeah? And how's that going for you?
RJ Collins: Well I felt like I was making some real progress before you interrupted me.
Corey Black: Oh? Because to me, it sounded like you were in here sulking because you decided to NOT listen to Frank and I and you got your ass handed to you in yet another title match.
RJ Collins: Well I-
Corey Black: Sitting in a dark room crying about how you can't succeed isn't going to do a damn thing to help you. You want to quit and go back to delivering pizzas? Go for it. Save Frank and I the trouble of trying to resurrect your dead career.
RJ Collins: My career's not dead, I'm just going through a rough patch right now.
Corey Black: Rough patch? You just asked yourself if you're better off living in your car. Meaning you're so dejected over things that you'd give up a steady paycheck, easily the biggest you'll ever have the chance to earn, to go live in a car and work yourself into an early grave. Son, that's not a rough patch, that's the end of the line.
RJ Collins: You're wrong.
Corey Black: Am I? Because I'm pretty sure we've spent the last two months or so trying to turn things around in your career and you decided that you knew better than us. I've been in this business almost as long as you've been alive, but no, you know better than me. But what really gets me is that you keep telling us how serious you are about this business and how you want to succeed, but at the first sign of failure, you turn into a blubbering mess that wants to quit. So why don't you just do it already and stop talking about it?
RJ Collins: Is that what you want me to do?
Corey Black: What I want is for you to shut the hell up and get back to working on getting better in a productive way instead of sitting in here giving a sad ass monologue. But it doesn't matter what I want, it's what you want and how you plan on getting it.
RJ Collins: Yeah, well what I want is to stop feeling like the biggest loser in the world and to actually belong. But I don't have the first clue how to get that.
Corey Black: Well step one would be to stop whining and moaning into a camera. Step two is to actually do something else. Literally anything else. Like, oh I don't know, actually training. Call me crazy but I think that might actually help. Besides that, it's on you to start making better decisions because I'm not going to hold your hand the whole time. So either suck it up and get to work or be man enough to tell Frank and I that you're quitting so we can all move on.
Black unfolds his arms and turns, walking out into the hallway and out of the camera's view. The camera pans back to RJ as he stares toward the empty doorway, taken aback by the blunt words of Black. The scene fades out as he sits back in his chair, deep in thought.
1/4/20
The scene fades back in just in time to see a small man flying through the air and crashing into a bunch of folding chairs that had been set up. As the man writhes in pain, the camera pans over to show RJ standing in the ring, sweat pouring down his face as he's breathing rather hard. Nearby Bill is standing, a smile on his face as he's watching RJ while talking on the phone. The camera zooms in to hear his conversation.
Bill Simpson: It's the damndest thing, Frank. I don't know what the fuck has gotten into him, but the last three days he's been in here working himself to the point that I'm worried he's going to have a heart attack. Something lit a fire under his ass finally and I'm not about to start questioning it.
Bill watches as another one of his students slides into the ring, only to get laid out by a massive lariat. RJ picks up the poor bastard and throws him over the top rope as Bill nods approvingly.
Bill Simpson: So you didn't say anything to him lately either? Well shit, let's just celebrate the fact that it looks like he's taking things seriously for the first time ever. Who knows, maybe this is the week things finally turn around for him. Anyway, I got to get back to it. Take it easy.
Bill tucks his phone away and signals for yet another student to get into the ring with RJ. The guy gives him a worried look but Bill only waves him on more aggressively as he approaches the apron.
Bill Simpson: Kid I hope I'm not jinxing things, but the last three days I've seen more out of you than I have since we met.
RJ doesn't respond, choosing only to focus on the guy as he slides into the ring. As soon as he's on his feet, RJ charges him and tackles him into the corner. RJ grabs him by the head and drags him out toward the center of the ring.
RJ Collins: So you think that I'm a loser, huh? That I like to cry like a big pussy? Well let's see who the pussy is now!
The student lets out a scream of terror as RJ lifts him up and slams him to mat with a spinebuster.
RJ Collins: I'm just a big fat loser to you, aren't I? AREN'T I?
RJ grabs him by the head and pulls him back up to his feet.
RJ Collins: I..AM...NOT...A LOSER!
Student: I never said you were!
RJ lets out a primal roar and then elbows the poor man's face through the back of his skull. Well not literally but it's damn close.
Bill Simpson: All right kid, we're going to have to call it for the day. If I let you keep at it I'm not going to have any student's left alive and I need those checks to keep coming in.
RJ wipes the sweat from his face as he walks toward the ropes.
RJ Collins: I'm not done yet.
Bill Simpson: Come on, RJ, call it a day. You've been going at it since eight and look like you're near death.
RJ Collins: I said I'm not done yet.
Bill Simpson: Yeah but-
RJ climbs out onto the apron and drops down to the floor.
Bill Simpson: All right, I get it, but look around. I don't have anyone left that can stand at the moment. You have to at least give them enough time to recover.
RJ Collins: Fine.
RJ heads for the water cooler as Bill stares at him, clearly concerned now.
Bill Simpson: You okay, RJ?
RJ Collins: Never better.
Bill Simpson: Don't get me wrong, I'm loving this more focused and serious side of you, but I'm also starting to get worried that you're pushing yourself too hard. Are you going to tell me what's up?
RJ Collins: The only thing you need to know is that I'm done with being the world's punching bag. I'm still the loveable old RJ that likes to have fun, but what I'm not is the guy that you can mock for being fat and get away with it. Somebody recently told me that I need to suck it up and start making some changes in my life and for once I'm going to be smart enough to listen to them.
Bill Simpson: It's about time you listened to me!
RJ Collins: It wasn't y- yeah, it was you.
Bill Simpson: Well you picked the right time to get your act together, what with your big return match coming up. But that Corey Bull isn't exactly a pushover.
RJ Collins: Why do you think I'm going so hard here?
Bill Simpson: Ah, touche.
RJ Collins: I need to train like an absolute monster if I'm about to step into the ring with one. I can't let myself get intimidated by the sheer size of him.
Bill Simpson: I mean the size of him is terrifying, yes. But I think what's more concerning is the homicidal tendencies and the time in the asylum and the multiple personalities disorder and...well I could go on and on, but you get the point.
RJ Collins: Doesn't matter, he's a human being, not a movie monster. I can do this.
Bill Simpson: Love the confidence, but you need to consider-
RJ Collins: I'm not considering anything. I know that I can beat Bull and I'm going into this match with that one simple thought on my mind. I don't care about his history, I don't care about the serial killer vibe that he puts off, I don't care about a single thing when it comes to Corey Bull except for the fact that beneath it all he's still just a person and that means he can feel pain. Which means all I need to do is get in the ring and dish out more than I have in my whole career.
Bill Simpson: It's not going to just be that easy.
RJ Collins: And I know that it's not. But at the end of the day, the simple fact is that I have something to prove. These damn people are out there thinking that just because I'm heavy, I'm automatically a loser. They see me smiling, having a good time, and right away I'm a moron who can't take things seriously. Well I'm done letting people judge me based on what they see when they look at me. It's time I make people take me seriously and if I have to do that by turning things up in the ring, bringing pain and destruction instead of just putting on a show, then so be it. I'm sick and tired of people like Corey Bull thinking they can say whatever they want about me and that I'll just take it and smile back. Nah, it's time for some serious changes and the only way I'm going to see them is if I finally step up and do something about it.
Bill Simpson: It'll be good to see you no longer be the punchline of a cruel joke.
RJ Collins: I'll never stop being the butt of the joke from some asshole, that's just the world that we live in. But what I can change is how many people are making those jokes because I plan on knocking them all down one at a time. RJ Collins has been a bottom feeder for far too long now and it's high time that things change. It's Eatin' Season and I'm one hungry mother fucker.
Bill Simpson: I don't think I've ever heard you curse.
RJ Collins: You're about to see a lot of shit you've never seen me do before. Now bring me someone that can actually give me a fight.
RJ heads back toward the ring as Bill looks on, his face full of intrigue. The scene fades out to black as RJ climbs up onto the apron and steps through the ropes.